Syrus Sajjad Qazi appointed as new foreign secretary

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi has been appointed as the 32nd foreign secretary of Pakistan.

He replaces Ambassador Asad Majid Khan, who retired from government service upon attaining superannuation, said the Foreign Office in a tweet.

Ambassador Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi @syrusqazi has been appointed as the 32nd Foreign Secretary of Pakistan. He replaces Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan @asadmk17 who retires from government service upon attaining superannuation. pic.twitter.com/NJ0kFbX68D

— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) August 16, 2023

Sources said that Qazi, a seasoned diplomat, has previously served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Hungary and Turkey. His vast experience in diplomatic affairs makes him a well-suited candidate for this crucial role.

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Qazi’s appointment comes after Asad Majid Khan’s retirement as the foreign secretary. The change in leadership is expected to bring a fresh perspective to Pakistan’s foreign policy and international relations.

According to the sources, Qazi will play a pivotal role in representing Pakistan’s interests on the global stage. His extensive experience in diplomatic postings and his insights into international affairs are anticipated to contribute to the country’s diplomatic efforts, they said.

Syrus was the frontrunner and has been waiting for the top slot since Asad Majid was appointed as foreign secretary in December last year. Asad served as foreign secretary for eight months.

The sources said that government wanted to appoint Asad as foreign secretary in September 2022 when Sohail Mahmood relinquished the charge but instead it had given additional charge to Jauhar Saleem. The reason the government did not appoint a full-time foreign secretary was because the then army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had reservations over Asad’s nomination.

However, Asad was finally appointed as the foreign secretary in December days after Bajwa retired. It was believed that Asad was appointed at the recommendation of the Pakistan People’s Party.