NEW ASSIGNMENT

ABHAY THAKUR, who is in-charge of the Nepal desk in South Block, is all set to go to Mauritius as India’s envoy next month. Thakur, who has served as New Delhi’s pointperson for Nepal and Bhutan, was at the helm of affairs during the last one year of Nepal’s turmoil — and its relationship with India. Despite having faced criticism initially, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar backed him through the turbulent period and now, he is being rewarded for seeing through the crisis period. However, as he leaves, Nepal is once again witnessing churning and his successor — who is yet to be named — has a tough task in hand.