Pakistan prepares to appoint new Foreign Secretary

Pakistan is preparing to appoint a new Foreign Secretary following the upcoming retirement of Amna Baloch, scheduled for mid-September. The decision is considered critical for the nation's diplomatic trajectory and its relations with regional partners and major powers.

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, currently Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, is a leading candidate for the position. Ahmad has a diplomatic career spanning three decades, including roles as Ambassador to France, Monaco, and Thailand, as well as serving as the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson. High-level consultations regarding his appointment are reportedly complete, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expected to make an announcement potentially before attending the United Nations General Assembly.

Other prominent contenders under consideration include Shafqat Ali Khan, the current Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, the Ambassador to the United States. The selection process involves balancing professional merit with the strategic necessity of filling key diplomatic posts worldwide.