India's first NSA Brajesh Mishra passes away

New Delhi: India's first National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, who died in New Delhi on Friday night, was a pivotal figure in shaping foreign policy during NDA government and a troubleshooter of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A career diplomat, he had served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as Ambassador to Indonesia. He retired as Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry.

He had played a key role in India's diplomatic efforts to contain the adverse reaction from developed countries to India's testing of a nuclear device in May, 1998.

Born on September 29, 1928, Mishra's father Dwarka Prasad Mishra was a former Congress chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and considered close to Indira Gandhi.

Mishra joined the BJP in 1991 only to quit it seven years later to become Vajpayee's powerful Principal Secretary.

Mishra, as the Principal Secretary to Vajpayee, wielded so much clout that he often almost eclipsed the status of Cabinet ministers in Vajpayee government.

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 talks with China seeking to expedite a resolution of the vexed border problem.

In November 1998, he became the country's first National Security Advisor, a post he had held till May 23, 2004.

From Pokhran-2 to Kashmir and from Vajpayee's historic bus journey to Pakistan to engaging the US in a strategic dialogue, Mishra was a crucial figure in foreign policy and security initiatives.

Mishra was was India's Permanent Representative to the UN from June 1979 to April 1981. He continued with the UN on deputation, till June 1987.

After NDA was voted out of power in May 2004, Mishra did not rejoin BJP.

Mishra crafted an important role for himself and was often seen present at all meetings on foreign policy matters held at Vajpayee's residence.

In July 2005, when the Manmohan Singh government first signed the Indo-US nuclear agreement, Mishra was one of the strongest opponents of the deal.

He is understood to have played a role in convincing the BJP to take an anti-nuke deal position but subsequently became a votary of the deal.