PM Dahal adminsitering the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed National Security Adviser Shankar Das Bairagi.
KATHMANDU: The government has appointed Shankar Das Bairagi as the Advisor to the National Security Council in order to facilitate the appointment of Baikunta Aryal as the Chief Secretary.
This position was specifically created for Bairagi, who will now enjoy the privileges and facilities of a cabinet minister.
Bairagi’s term as Chief Secretary was set to expire in three months, while Aryal’s term was expiring in three days. In a cabinet meeting held on Thursday morning, attractive opportunities were provided to both individuals.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has already administered the oath of office and secrecy to Bairagi.
It is worth noting that the National Security Council Act does not currently provide for this particular post. However, the cabinet created the new position based on the recommendation of the Council, with specific working procedures in place.
Bairagi began his career in the civil service as a junior officer and later joined the foreign service, steadily rising through the ranks to become the foreign secretary. He has served as secretary for seven years, including in officiating and acting capacities. He is the first foreign service cadre to hold the position of Chief Secretary.
His predecessors at the foreign ministry often took up ambassadorial positions after retirement. However, Bairagi used to say that he would not pursue positions that required him to report to his juniors. “Having spent 36 years in the foreign services, why should I become an ambassador? I will stay in Nepal and engage in research work,” Bairagi had recently told this scribe.
Bairagi had been preparing to engage in research through NGOs after his retirement. However, when an offer to become Advisor to the National Security Council was made, he accepted. Bairagi can now participate in cabinet meetings to engage in special discussions on security-related matters.
A source close to the Prime Minister informed Himal Press that Bairagi agreed to step down from Chief Secretary after he was offered a responsibility that holds a similar rank to that of a cabinet minister.
Many countries, including India, the US, the UK, China, and Bangladesh, have provisions for appointing an advisor to their respective National Security Councils. Nepal has now followed suit. Ajit Doval serves as the security advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in neighboring India. A cabinet minister informed Himal Press that a similar structure has been envisioned for Nepal.
The National Security Council in Nepal is headed by the Prime Minister, with the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense serving as the member-secretary. The Defense Minister, Home Minister, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Chief Secretary, and Chief of Army Staff are also members of the council. Bairagi’s ranking in the National Security Council will be above that of the cabinet ministers. However, it is unclear whether his ranking will be above that of the Defense Minister.
Talking to Himal Press, Bairagi expressed his pleasure at being appointed as the advisor to the National Security Council. Citing examples from India, where former foreign secretaries have assumed this position, Bairagi, said, “It was sudden, pleasing and natural.”
Notably, former Indian security advisors such as Shivshankar Menon, JN Dixit, and Brajesh Mishra had all previously served as foreign secretaries. In the UK, a former diplomat is also typically appointed as the security advisor. Bangladesh similarly selects individuals from the security and foreign affairs sectors for this position. China also appoints individuals with expertise in security and diplomacy to its security council.
Bairagi’s appointment as security advisor has drawn criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that former army generals, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), and former heads of the investigation department could have been more effective in the role.
A cabinet minister, however, defended the appointment. “He brings an extensive experience as a civil servant. Likewise, his long tenure in the foreign service and his successful performance as Chief Secretary for nearly three years make him well-suited for the role,” he added.
Bairagi’s appointment is for a five-year term which means he will continue in the position even if a new government is formed.
Prakash Paudel, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, explained that the approval of the Appointment of the National Security Advisor and Services & Facilities Directive, 2023, based on provisions outlined in Article 266 of the Constitution of Nepal paved the way for Bairagi’s appointment.
The constitution provides for the National Security Council to formulate policies related to the overall national interest, security and defense of Nepal and to recommend to the Government of Nepal, the Council of Ministers for the mobilization or control of the Nepal Army.
However, since the council has largely remained inactive, the government is taking steps to make it more effective by appointing an advisor with a specific mandate.
