Atul Khare named UN Under Secretary-General for Field Support

United Nations: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has appointed senior Indian diplomat Atul Khare as the Under Secretary-General for Field Support and will head the department that provides dedicated support to peacekeeping missions around the world.

Khare, 55 will succeed Bangladesh's Ameerah Haq as the Under Secretary-General for Field Support, Department of Field Support (DFS). Khare has been appointed as the head of DFS, which provides dedicated support to peacekeeping field missions and political field missions around the world.

He Permanent Mission of India to the UN welcomed the announcement, expressing confidence that Khare will discharge the important responsibilities entrusted to him with complete distinction. A statement issued by Secretary General Ban's spokesperson said Khare "brings to the position strategic management and innovative reform expertise in both headquarters and field perspective."

Currently providing charitable medical advice in India, Khare has had a long career with the United Nations, most recently as the Assistant Secretary-General leading the Change Management Team (2011-2012) and Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Deputy Head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York (2010-2011).

He was previously Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste and Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) at the level of Under Secretary-General (2006-2009). He earlier also worked as Chief of Staff and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General with the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).

Former Director of The Nehru Centre and Minister (Culture), High Commission of India in London (2005-2006), Khare joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1984 and has served in Indian Missions in Paris, Dakar, Port Louis and London as well as the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations here.