Mathai is foreign secretary, corporate affairs gets Masood

New Delhi: Former Ambassador to France Ranjan Mathai today assumed charge as new foreign secretary succeeding Nirupama Rao while Naved Masood assumed charge as secretary in the ministry of corporate affairs. Mathai, a 1974-batch IFS officer, moved into his office in the Ministry of External Affairs in South Block at around 9.25 am and assumed charge of the top post. He said maintaining an era of constructive cooperation in the immediate neighbourhood will be one of his priority tasks as foreign secretary.[caption id=“attachment_51555” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai. Courtesy MEA”]  [/caption] On India-Pakistan relations, 59-year-old Mathai, who will have a two-year fixed tenure, said the mandate for the foreign secretary is to pave the way for a substantive dialogue with Pakistan on all issues. “We have to try and work to restore trust and confidence…This is the mandate which has been given to me. Foreign Secretary is as much an institution as an individual. So I will continue this effort,” he told reporters after taking charge. “Continuity will be my watch word,” Mathai said. To a question whether composite dialogue is the “right way” between India and Pakistan, the foreign secretary said, “The mandate is substantive dialogue on all issues of common concern.” Mathai, who has served in Indian missions in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels, said India should develop “strong and cooperative relationship” with all global players. “We need to keep in mind the need for very, very strong relations with countries in Latin America, Central Asia, South East Asia and the Gulf region,” he said. Outgoing foreign secretary Rao has been appointed India’s Ambassador to the United States. Prior to signing in as secretary in the corporate affairs ministry, Masood was special secretary and financial advisor, department of health and family welfare in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Masood replaces D K Mittal, who has been appointed as secretary, department of financial services in the Ministry of Finance. PTI