Brajesh Mishra was Vajpayee's geostrategist, troubleshooter

Brajesh Mishra, the country’s first National Security Adviser who played a key role in foreign policy matters and pushed for deeper engagement with the US, died in New Delhi late on Friday  following a heart ailment. Mishra, who would have turned 84 on Saturday, was declared dead at the Fortis hospital in Vasant Kunj in south Delhi, at around 9.50 pm, hospital sources said. He had been suffering from a coronary artery problem for some time.  He is survived by his wife and a son and a daughter, both of whom reside abroad. A career diplomat, Mishra was Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee before he was appointed NSA. He had earlier retired as Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry after having served as India’s Permanent representative to the UN. He had played a crucial role in assisting Vajpayee during the Kargil conflict in 1999. [caption id=“attachment_262423” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Brajesh Mishra was instrumental in steering Indian foreign policy towards the US. Reuters[/caption] After the fall of the NDA government in 2004 and the fading away of Vajpayee from the political scene, Mishra distanced himself from the BJP and often criticised its stand on various foreign policy issues. He also batted for the Indo-US nuclear deal when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was negotiating with Washington and attacked the BJP for opposing it. Believed to be the most powerful man in the PMO during Vajpayee’s tenure, Mishra also served as an able troubleshooter. He joined the BJP in 1991, but quit it seven years later to become Vajpayee’s Principal Secretary. He played a key role on several issues relating to domestic and international policies, including forging closer ties with China and bringing thaw in Indo-Pak relations. He was Special Representative for the talks with China to expedite a resolution of the border problem. In November 1998, he became the country’s first National Security Advisor, a post he held till 23 May  2004. From Pokhran-2 to Kashmir, and from Vajpayee’s historic visit to Pakistan to engaging the US in a strategic dialogue, Mishra was the key figure in the country’s foreign policy and security manoeuvres. Born on 29 September 1928, Mishra was ambassador and India’s permanent representative in Geneva and India’s ambassador to Indonesia. He was also India’s permanent representative to the UN from June 1979 to April 1981. He continued with the UN, on deputation, till June 1987. He was the son of Dwarka Prasad Mishra, a former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, considered a staunch politician from the Congress and very close to Indira Gandhi. PTI