India’s former Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, has been appointed as the next high commissioner of India to New Zealand.
Indian Foreign Ministry sources said he was expected to take charge shortly.
Mr Mehta replaces Deepak Vohra (currently the ambassador to Sudan), who was earlier this year named envoy to New Zealand. Mr Vohra was expected to have taken his posting in August this year.
It is still not clear why Mr Vohra’s appointment was withdrawn in favour of Mr Mehta.
While Mr Mehta was always known to enjoy the confidence of those in power, his remarks on India's military strength vis-a-vis China just before his retirement had created a furore with some even accusing him of embarrassing the armed forces.
Mr Mehta had said that India had neither the capability nor the intention to match China.
Born on August 18, 1947, Mr Mehta, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the Indian Navy in July 1967. A graduate of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he has also attended the National Defence College in New Delhi.
After joining the Naval forces he has held various appointments including the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Director General Coast Guard, Chief of Personnel, Controller of Personnel Services, Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resources Development) and Assistant Controller Carrier Projects.
He also commanded the frigate INS Beas, INS Godavari and one of the premier naval air stations of the Indian Navy-INS Garuda.
During his tenure as the Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition and Assistant Controller Carrier Projects, Mr Mehta was the man behind the commencement of a host of important ships and aircraft acquisition programmes.
- IW Online