The Ministry of External Affairs has called a meeting of the 120-odd Indian ambassadors and heads of missions (HoMs) from August 24 to 26, the first such meeting after the UPA returned to power. This will also be the first meeting of ambassadors since new External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao took over.

Sources said the conference is expected to be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior Cabinet ministers. While the agenda for discussion is still being worked out, indications are that South Block will explain India's approach towards Pakistan in the backdrop of the Sharm-el-Sheikh joint statement which kicked up a storm at the domestic level. There could also be some “brainstorming” on the China policy in the face of “aggressive overtures” from certain quarters in Beijing.

The conference assumes significance as a many Indian missions have seen a change of guard since the last meet. Details are also being worked out on a session on “economic diplomacy” and meetings are being lined up with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and others.