PM confirms Narayan as NSA

Ending speculation about what kind of changes Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wanted in the security scenario, "temporary" National Security Adviser MK Narayan was today appointed the new National Security Adviser.

The Prime Minister took the decision to confirm him in the job he was holding temporarily, after several rounds of consultations with many, including Brajesh Mishra, principal secretary to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Does this mean Narayan will take over all the duties of the late JN Dixit, including running the strategic dialogue with several countries, talks on nuclear theology with the US and border talks with China? The order, apparently, does not specify.

What is clear is that he will preside over meetings of the national security advisory board and the national security council and report on their deliberations to the Prime Minister.

In appointing him, Singh has opted for a bureaucrat better experienced in monitoring internal security and covert operations than one who understands larger strategic issues.

But the appointment shows he has bypassed the external affairs ministry's suggestions that a retired foreign service officer would be better placed to advise him. Rather than risk any possibilities of run-ins in an area the Prime Minister, is not particularly comfortable with, he has chosen to be safe as reflected by Narayan's appointment.

The order appointing him as the NSA had been issued, said Sanjaya Baru, media adviser to the Prime Minister.