Subsequently, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassies in Tokyo and Washington, followed by Ambassador in Chile, Mexico (1960-1961 3rd Secretary), Japan, Australia, Afghanistan (1980–85); High Commissioner Sri Lanka (1985–89) and Pakistan (1989–91).

He was also a representative of India to the United Nations, UNIDO, UNESCO, ILO and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

He was the High Commissioner in Colombo in 1987 when India signed an accord with Sri Lanka government and deployed of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to the Tamil area in the island nation at the height of ethnic crisis.

[8] His columns on international and regional affairs, appeared regularly in various publications including Outlook and Indian Express.

[10] J N Dixit, died in harness as the National Security Advisor on 3 January 2005, in New Delhi, after suffering a heart attack.