The diplomat from Srinagar: Vikram Misri’s quiet rise to India’s top foreign policy role

On May 7, when Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri walked in front of the cameras with Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force to brief the nation on Operation Sindoor—India’s swift and strategic missile response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attacks—it was a moment of high national emotion.

Yes, the missiles did strike with precision, destroying terror bases deep inside Pakistani territory, but what also anchored the gravity of the moment was Misri’s measured words and unflappable demeanour. Unshaken even in the wake of Pakistan’s retaliatory volleys days later, Misri is a man who brings a rare blend of resolve and restraint to India’s foreign policy machinery.

But a point to note is that hidden behind the soft-spoken diplomatic language, which is a hallmark of Misri, lies a long and storied career that spans over three decades, rooted as much in the geopolitical complexities of the world and India’s place in it, as it is in the layered and rich history of Kashmir, where Misri was born on November 7, 1964.

A Kashmiri by birth, a diplomat by design

Misri’s early life in Srinagar and Udhampur—shaped by both culture and conflict—would eventually shape a man deeply aware of the fault lines existing in South Asia. After completing his early education at Burn Hall School and Carmel Convent in Jammu and Kashmir, Misri moved to Scindia School in Gwalior and later pursued a degree in History from Hindu College, Delhi University. But it was his MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur—and his brief stint in the world of advertising with Lintas and Contract—that gave him a unique edge: a strategic communicator who understands that the art of communication is as much about offering key information, as also allowing for nuance to exist in between the lines.

In 1989, as India stood at the cusp of economic and political transformation, Misri joined the Indian Foreign Service. It was the beginning of a diplomatic career that would eventually see him serve three Prime Ministers—I.K. Gujral, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi—as Private Secretary, a rare distinction that speaks to his political acumen and cross-partisan respect.

Global stage, domestic wisdom

Misri's foreign assignments span continents and conflicts. From his postings in Brussels, Tunis, Islamabad, and Washington D.C., to serving as Deputy High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and Consul General in Munich, Misri developed a nuanced grasp of international relations. His ambassadorial roles in Spain (2014), Myanmar (2016), and China (2019–2021) placed him at the heart of India’s most sensitive diplomatic fronts. In Beijing, he was India’s face during the turbulent period of the Galwan clashes, navigating perhaps the tensest phase of Sino-Indian relations in recent memory.

From January 2022 until mid-2024, he served as Deputy National Security Adviser, overseeing strategic affairs—a role that brought his calm strategic mind to India’s most critical defence and intelligence frameworks.

The quiet strategist

There is a pattern to Misri’s career—one that blends operational discipline with big-picture thinking, both being hallmarks of great diplomacy. Fluent in Hindi, English, and Kashmiri, with working knowledge of French, he has consistently been the man governments rely on when diplomacy enters murky waters. His appointment as India’s 35th Foreign Secretary on July 15, 2024, was not merely ceremonial—it was a statement of continuity and competence.

A Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s Kamalnayan Bajaj Leadership Initiative, Misri believes in what he calls “environmental awareness in diplomacy”—an approach that goes beyond flashpoints to understand the slow tectonics of power, perception, and people. Whether it’s managing crises, rebuilding bilateral trust, or shaping long-term foreign policy, Misri's method is less firebrand and more fulcrum—balancing complexity with clarity.

Reinventing diplomacy, quietly

Even as discussions become acute over Pakistan’s IMF bailouts or the complexities of India’s geopolitical alliances, be it with the U.S. or in the Indo-Pacific, Misri’s quiet demeanour represents a steady hand. But when he speaks, the words count. In a world increasingly dominated by aggressive posturing and noisy diplomacy, Vikram Misri represents something of an anomaly: a statesman whose strength lies not in spectacle but in strategy.