Raminder Singh Jassal,Indias ambassador to Turkey,died of cancer in Ankara on Friday morning. He was 59.
A 1976-batch IFS officer,Jassal had been Indias envoy in Turkey since 2008. He had served as the ambassador to Israel from July 2001 to December 2004. Between 2004 and 2008,he was the deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy in Washington DC and played a key role in negotiating the India-US nuclear deal.
We deeply mourn the passing of Raminder Jassal,our Ambassador in Turkey, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said,describing him as a dear friend and brilliant colleague. Jassal had earlier served as the joint secretary in the External Public city division between 1999 and July 2001.