NEW DELHI: Sweeping changes are afoot in MEA, with the government moving new faces to top diplomatic posts. Gautam Bambawale , India's ambassador to Bhutan, will take over from TCA Raghavan as high commissioner to Pakistan when the latter retires in December. This is a big appointment, because Bambawale, an expert on China, will be taking over one of India's most sensitive diplomatic positions.Navtej Sarna, presently secretary (west) in MEA will be India's next high commissioner to London. Sarna, who was ambassador to Israel, will have just the right mix of political, cultural and diaspora skills for the job. Anil Wadhwa, secretary (east), will go to Rome, which has become more prominent given the level of Indian economic interests. The two senior-most officials in headquarters will be replaced by Amar Sinha and Amarendra Khatua, who will be the next Secretaries East and West. Sinha has been India's ambassador to Afghanistan, overseeing the transition from the Karzai to Ghani government. Khatua is currently India's ambassador to Argentina.The biggest jump has been reserved for Syed Akbaruddin , who will take over as India's permanent representative in the UN in New York . Akbar, as he is known, was a familiar face as MEA's spokesperson, and it's known that PM Modi regards him highly. Akbaruddin will replace Asoke Mukerji who will be retiring. The post is generally a secretary-level one, so Akbaruddin's elevation is the first sign that merit is again one of the top considerations for posts. Before he leaves though, Akbaruddin will have to deliver the big ticket India-Africa summit in October.P S Raghavan, India's capable pair of hands in Moscow, will be replaced by Pankaj Saran, currently India's high commissioner to Dhaka, when he retires at the end of the year. Saran was believed to have played a stellar role in securing the land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh. Given Bangladesh's crucial importance to India, the government will be moving Harsh V Shringla from Bangkok to Dhaka. Shringla is regarded as one of MEA's finest, and having steered India's relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives for several years, has broad shoulders, with a sound knowledge of the region and its complexities.Vijay Gokhale, India's ambassador to Germany will make the important move to Beijing, when the current incumbent, Ashok Kantha retires in a few months. Gokhale is not only a China hand, having served as joint secretary in charge of China and Japan for several years, he is believed to be one of the most knowledgeable officials to be entrusted with a very complex relationship.Sujan Chinoy, India's ambassador to Mexico, will take over from Deepa Wadhwa in Tokyo. This is a very important bilateral relationship, driven primarily by the interest of the two Prime Ministers, Modi and Shinzo Abe . Deepa Wadhwa, however, may get a short extension of service to cover Abe's visit to India in November-December this year.The government does not want to move Yash Sinha from his post as high commissioner in Colombo, where he has performed admirably in a relationship that is growing in importance.Nengcha Lhouvum, director Foreign Service Institute is headed to Jakarta as India's ambassador in this most important Asean country. Gurjit Singh, currently in Indonesia, will take Vijay Gokhale's place in Berlin.The changes have been on the anvil for some time, as foreign secretary Jaishankar settles down and the government takes stock of the countries which it wants focus on as Modi puts his stamp on foreign policy.