Navtej Singh Sarna appointed Secretary (West) in MEA

NEW DELHI: Senior diplomat Navtej Singh Sarna was today appointed as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Sarna, a 1980 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is working as Special Secretary in the ministry and will succeed Dinkar Khullar, who superannuates on August 31, said an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.

Apart from holding the distinction of being the longest- serving spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry, Sarna has served in Indian missions in Moscow, Warsaw, Thimphu, Geneva, Tehran and Washington DC.

He has also served as Indian Ambassador to Israel. As Secretary (West), Sarna will be responsible for looking after country's diplomatic affairs with the UK and other European nations.

Sarna has also authored many books including "The Exile"-- a novel based on the life of Maharaja Duleep Singh, "We Weren't Lovers Like That", a novel, and a non-fiction "The Book of Nanak".