Shyam Sharan, Ambassador of India in Kathmandu since October 2002, was appointed Indian Foreign Secretary and is expected to take up his post in early July. During his time in strife-torn Nepal, the Bihar-born Sharan built a reputation for plain-speaking even as the Indian military assistance to Nepal grew by leaps and bounds. His term saw the path cleared for the Birgunj dry port and he lobbied New Delhi to develop transport infrastructure on both sides of the tarai border. The 57-year-old career diplomat was tipped for the top job in South Bloc by the earlier BJP government and he was the first diplomat called in for consultations by the new Foreign Minister, Natwar Singh. In New Delhi, Sharan is expected to work closely with India's recently appointed National Security Adviser JN Dixit.