Narayanans exit a positive development

The exit of M K Narayanan from the National Security Advisor position in the Prime Ministers Office has potentially important implications for India policy on Kashmir, the then American Ambassador Timothy Roemer observed in a cable on February 1,last year.

Narayanan cast a huge shadow over decision-making on internal security issues and,due to his intelligence and security background as well as his ties to the Nehru-Gandhi family,he seldom lost a bureaucratic or policy battle, the US envoy wrote back to Washington.

Roemer said Indias Kashmir policy became more consolidated under the more forward leaning Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Roemer mentioned Narayanan played a dominant,conservative and often obstructive role in GoI policy on Kashmir.