Asim Iftikhar Ahmad – (Special Correponent/Web Desk) – Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has been named as the next foreign secretary of Pakistan. The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday. He currently serves as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
Dar shared the news in a post on social media platform X. He said he was confident that under Ambassador Asim’s leadership, the Foreign Office would keep working with clarity and purpose. He also praised the efforts of outgoing Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.
The 33rd Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Ambassador Amna Baloch, after a distinguished career spanning over three decades and her tenure as Foreign Secretary since 11 September 2024, will retire from government service on 17 September 2026. I commend her dedicated service and…
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) September 9, 2026
Baloch has served as the 33rd foreign secretary of Pakistan. Dar confirmed she will retire from government service on September 17, 2026. Her career in the foreign service has spanned more than three decades.
The foreign minister called her service dedicated and said she leaves behind a strong legacy. He added that Pakistan carries warm wishes for her going forward. After retiring, Baloch will not be stepping away from diplomacy completely.
She has been given a new assignment as Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkiye. Dar expressed hope that she would continue serving the country with the same distinction in her new post. He also confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved both assignments.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad brings decades of experience to his new role. He joined the Foreign Service back in 1993. Over the years, he has worked across several regions, including Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Between November 2022 and December 2024, he served as Pakistan’s ambassador to France and Monaco. During the same period, he was also the Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. Before that posting, he held the important role of Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
He also headed two major divisions at the ministry during his career. These included the Asia Pacific Division and later the United Nations and Economic Diplomacy Division. Earlier still, he served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Thailand from 2017 to 2021.
His very first diplomatic posting was in Niamey, Niger, back in 1997. Iftikhar has also worked in the Personnel, Europe, and Africa divisions at the Foreign Ministry over the years. His background shows wide exposure across different diplomatic settings.
Multilateral diplomacy has been one of his strongest areas of work. He has held key roles at the UN in both New York and Geneva. He also served as Pakistan’s representative to UNESCAP in Bangkok and UNESCO in Paris.
At UNESCO, he held the role of Vice Chair for the Asia Pacific Group. He was also Vice Chair of the General Conference there. His time leading the UN Division covered a wide range of global issues.
These issues included peace, security, climate change, and human rights. He also oversaw Pakistan’s missions in cities like Rome, Vienna, Nairobi, and Geneva. His earlier years in New York focused on political and peacekeeping matters.
On the academic side, Iftikhar is a gold medalist from two universities. He studied Electrical Engineering at UET Lahore and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Punjab University. Both degrees were completed with top honors.
Born in Lahore on November 27, 1966, he is married to Asma. The couple has three daughters together. With his appointment now confirmed, attention turns to how he will lead Pakistan’s foreign policy in the months ahead.
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