NEW DELHI, Jan 25: Former Indian sleuth M.K. Narayanan was formally appointed on Tuesday the new National Security Adviser. Mr Narayanan was officiating as the National Security Adviser after the death of Jyotindra Nath Dixit earlier this month.

In a clue to what his policy towards Pakistan might be, Mr Narayanan had said at the weekend that the confidence-building measures between Pakistan and India would not be marred by the recent incidents of firing in Poonch.

India has asked Pakistan to probe the incident but Islamabad says the firing came from the Indian side. It is not clear if Mr Narayanan would be engaged in backstage talks with his Pakistani counterpart Tariq Aziz in the manner that Mr Dixit was carrying out this delicate task.

In fact, there have been some reports that future negotiations may be handed to former diplomat S. K. Lambah, who has served also as India's envoy in Islamabad. Mr Narayanan's comments on the recent firing could suggest a thinking though. "It can be viewed as a routine affair which will not affect the ongoing peace process between the two countries," he said on Saturday.

Regarding the objection of Pakistan to the construction of the Baglihar dam across Chenab River, Mr Narayanan said the dispute would be sorted out as Pakistan had already approached the World Bank.