Pakistan appoints Asim Iftikhar Ahmad as new foreign secretary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has appointed Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad as the country’s new foreign secretary, succeeding Ambassador Amna Baloch, who is set to retire later this month.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the appointment on Wednesday through a post on X after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the decision.

“Confident that, under Ambassador Asim’s leadership, the Foreign Office will continue to advance Pakistan’s interests with clarity, professionalism and purpose,” Dar said.

Ambassador Ahmad will become Pakistan’s 34th foreign secretary.

Ambassador Amna Baloch appointed envoy to Türkiye

Ambassador Amna Baloch, who retires on Sept 17, has been appointed Pakistan’s ambassador to Türkiye on a post-retirement contract.

She replaces Dr Yousaf Junaid, who served as Pakistan’s envoy to Türkiye for nearly four years on a post-retirement contract.

Transition to take place after UNGA session

Ambassador Ahmad is currently serving as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York and is engaged in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

As the UNGA session continues until the end of September, he is not expected to assume his new responsibilities immediately. During the transition period, Special Secretary Nabeel Munir is expected to serve as acting foreign secretary.

Responding to the announcement on X, Ambassador Ahmad said he looked forward to advancing Pakistan’s supreme national interest.

A career diplomat with extensive UN experience

Born in Lahore on November 27, 1966, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar is a career diplomat who joined Pakistan's Foreign Service in 1993.

He is a gold medalist from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, and the University of Punjab.

Since April 2025, he has been serving as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, succeeding Ambassador Munir Akram. 

During Pakistan’s current term on the UN Security Council, he also served as President of the Council in July 2025.

Key diplomatic postings

Over more than three decades in Pakistan’s diplomatic service, Ambassador Ahmad has held several senior positions, including:

Ambassador to France and Monaco and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO (2022–2024).

Foreign Office spokesperson and additional secretary (2021–2022).

Ambassador to Thailand and Permanent Representative to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific from 2017 to 2021.

He has also served two separate postings at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, including as political coordinator during Pakistan’s Security Council terms in 2003–04 and 2012–13. Between 2009 and 2010, he served as Deputy Chef de Cabinet to the President of the UN General Assembly.