India’s envoys to Pakistan, Bangladesh strong contenders for China posting

The present envoy to China, Vijay Gokhale, may be posted as secretary (economic relations) at the South Block.

Gautam Bambawale, India’s high commissioner to Pakistan, and Harsh Shringla, the envoy to Dhaka, are top contenders for the post of the country’s next ambassador to China, sources said.

Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, Gautam Bambawale, is a strong contender for the post of envoy to China. (AFP File Photo)

The present envoy to China, Vijay Gokhale, may be posted as secretary (economic relations) at the South Block, sources said on condition of anonymity.

Gokhale was also a secretary-level officer in China, South Block sources said.

Gokhale, a 1981 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is in contention to succeed S Jaishankar as foreign secretary next January, Bambawale is a known China hand after having worked at both the Beijing mission and desk at New Delhi.

Both Bambawale and Shringla are 1984 batch officers.