Asim Iftikhar named next foreign secretary as Amna Baloch set to retire

Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has been named the country’s next foreign secretary, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday.

Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approved the new assignments, under which Iftikhar will take charge of the Foreign Office following the retirement of incumbent Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.

In a statement on X, Dar expressed confidence that Iftikhar would lead the Foreign Office in pursuing Pakistan’s diplomatic interests with ‘professionalism and clarity’.

Baloch, who became Pakistan’s 33rd foreign secretary, is due to retire from government service on September 17 after more than three decades in the civil service.

Dar praised her contribution to the Foreign Ministry, particularly during what he described as an important period for Pakistan’s foreign policy.

“Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch leaves behind a legacy of dedicated public service, and carries with her our warmest wishes,” Dar said.

He added that Baloch would take up a new assignment as Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkiye after her retirement.

Iftikhar’s diplomatic career

Iftikhar joined Pakistan’s Foreign Service in 1993 and has held diplomatic and senior Foreign Office positions in Europe, Africa, Asia and at the United Nations.

According to Geo News, he served as Pakistan’s ambassador to France and Monaco and permanent delegate to UNESCO from November 2022 until December 2024. Before that, he was Foreign Office spokesperson from August 2021 to November 2022 while also serving as additional foreign secretary, first overseeing the Asia-Pacific Division and later the UN and Economic Diplomacy Division.

Earlier, Iftikhar served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Thailand from 2017 to 2021. His first overseas diplomatic posting was in Niamey, Niger, where he served from 1997 to 2000.

He has also worked in the Foreign Ministry’s Personnel, Europe and Africa divisions.

A significant part of his career has focused on multilateral diplomacy. He has held senior assignments at Pakistan’s missions in New York and Geneva and served as Pakistan’s permanent representative to UNESCAP in Bangkok and UNESCO in Paris.

During his tenure at UNESCO, he served as vice chair of the Asia-Pacific Group in the Executive Board and as vice chair of the General Conference.

As head of the Foreign Ministry’s UN Division, Iftikhar dealt with issues spanning international peace and security, development, climate change and human rights. His work also involved Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in New York, Geneva, Rome, Vienna, Paris and Nairobi.

His earlier postings in New York, from 2003 to 2009 and again from 2012 to 2014, included work on political affairs, peace and security, UN reform and Security Council matters. He also handled issues relating to the General Assembly, the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee, conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace-building.