(Image source from: OPEN Magazine)

Former Indian Ambassador to the United States S. Jaishankar has joined the board of directors of the Washington, D.C.,-based United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

The former diplomat, who is currently the President of Global Corporate Affairs for the Tata Group, is the 35th member of USISPF board, which is chaired by John T. Chambers, Chairman Emeritus of Cisco.

Jaishankar served as the Foreign Secretary of India from January 2015 to January 2018. As India's top diplomat, he was considered one of the architects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy.

He served as Indian ambassador in Washington, D.C., from December 2013 to January 2015.

"I'm looking forward to working with USISPF's board of directors to build upon the key relationship between India and the U.S.," Jaishankar said in a press release issued by the organization. "The Tata group has been at the forefront of U.S.-India business ties, and USISPF will be an important platform to further develop this relationship."

The USISPF said the retired diplomat's "extensive career and long-standing knowledge of foreign policy make him an invaluable addition" to the organization's board.

"Dr. Jaishankar is one of the most impressive and knowledgeable individuals in foreign relations who I have ever encountered," Chambers said. "His previous roles in the Indian Foreign Service and current role with Tata Group make him an invaluable addition to the Forum's already powerful board. We look forward to Dr. Jaishankar's close guidance within our board to further strengthen relations between the U.S. and India."

USISPF board member and former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen praised Jaishankar's contributions to the U.S.-India relations.

Headquartered in Washington, USISPF has offices in New York, Silicon Valley, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

By Sowmya Sangam