Meet the young Indian diplomats who took on Pakistan at the UN

The Permanent Mission of India in New York has taken the lead in showcasing 'Young India' and the talent house that they are to further India's goals at the world body, the United Nations.

The young officers were fielded to respond to Pakistan at United Nations General Assembly. A decision that has paid rich dividends to the Indian mission and its chief Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, who in an interview to India Today, said, "We have many young diplomats who are fearless and represent a new India. India is a young country. Sixty five per cent of our population is under the age of 35. Therefore, they have to take over from us. Our job is to mentor them, to give them confidence, to take the world on".

From 'Ivy league of terrorists' last year to 'Terroristan' and unmasking the 'true face of Pakistan' this year, the two young Indian diplomats took on the responsibility of putting forth India's position very well.

MEET THE DIPLOMATS

Paulomi Tripathi- She is the junior-most officer in the Permanent Mission in New York who on Monday exposed Pakistan's lies when India exercised the 'Right of Reply' (RoR) and she called out Pakistan at the world forum for using a fake photo and passing it of as that of a Kashmiri victim. This young diplomat took on the senior-most in the Pakistani mission in New York, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi.

She is an officer of 2007 batch who joined the mission three months ago. Tripathi handles Human Rights issues and was asked to move to the New York on a very short notice. She was a PhD scholar in JNU but joined IFS before completion of her programme. If her Facebook profile is to go by, she hails from Kolkata.

Highly regarded amongst her peers as a no-nonsense officer, Tripathi was until recently handling key portfolio in MEA HQ. She was the lynchpin of the administration, perhaps the most coveted post at junior level. She was the deputy secretary (Foreign Service Personnel). A mother of two, Tripathi has also served in Spain and speaks fluent in Portuguese.

Eenam Gambhir- A bright young diplomat who took on two Pakistani premiers in two consecutive years. Her response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi would be remembered for the term that was coined to corner Pakistan, 'Terroristan'.

"The quest for a land of pure has actually produced 'the land of pure terror'. Pakistan is now terroristan," she said.

Last year, Gambhir had delivered a similarly befitting reply to the then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif after he, too, raised the Kashmir issue at the UN. She had likened Pakistan, known as 'the land of Taxila' to the 'ivy league of terrorism'.

In UN, Gambhir is representing India for the "security council reform, counter-terrorism, cyber security issues, security council (regional issues), all special missions including those approved by UNSC, NAM coordination and Outreach w Universities/Colleges - Coordination" related topics.

An alumnus of Hindu College, DU, Gambhir is a 2005-batch IFS officer. Her Twitter account says she is a Delhiite. She has served in Madrid, Spain and is said to be fluent in Spanish. She has also served in Argentina and Brazil.

Before her posting to the Permanent Mission of India, New York, Gambhir was serving at the PAI (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) Desk, which is an important division of the MEA.

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