ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the appointment of Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed as Pakistan’s 34th Foreign Secretary, with the senior diplomat set to take charge of the Foreign Office following the retirement of Ambassador Amna Baloch.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the appointment on X, describing Ambassador Asim as a seasoned diplomat and expressing confidence that his leadership would help Pakistan advance its foreign policy interests with “clarity, professionalism and purpose.”
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed is currently serving as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. His appointment comes at a consequential time for Pakistan’s foreign policy, with the country navigating complex regional and international challenges.
Dar said the new Foreign Secretary would build on the work undertaken by Ambassador Amna Baloch and her predecessors, while continuing to strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement internationally.
Ambassador Amna Baloch, Pakistan’s 33rd Foreign Secretary, has served in the position since September 11, 2024. After a diplomatic career spanning more than three decades, she is scheduled to retire from government service on September 17, 2026.
In his announcement, Dar commended Baloch for her dedicated public service and leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during what he described as a consequential period in Pakistan’s diplomatic history.
Baloch, however, will continue representing Pakistan abroad after her retirement from government service. She is expected to assume charge as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye, where she will continue to serve the country in a diplomatic capacity. Dar extended his “warmest wishes” to Baloch and expressed confidence that she would continue to serve Pakistan with distinction in her new assignment.
The appointment of Asim Iftikhar Ahmed places an experienced diplomat at the helm of Pakistan’s Foreign Office. As Permanent Representative to the United Nations, he has represented Pakistan at a multilateral forum central to international diplomacy and global policy discussions.
The Foreign Secretary serves as the administrative and diplomatic head of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and plays a key role in coordinating foreign policy, advising the political leadership and overseeing the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.