Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad to take charge as Pakistan’s 34th foreign secretary today
Veteran diplomat brings extensive multilateral experience, UN Security Council leadership and a distinguished record of international engagement to top Foreign Office position
Liaquat Ali
Islamabad: Pakistan’s seasoned diplomat and outgoing Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, is set to assume charge as the country’s 34th foreign secretary today (Monday), bringing to the Foreign Office an accomplished record of diplomatic engagement, multilateral negotiations and representation of Pakistan at some of the world’s most important international forums.
Ambassador Asim, who departed for Islamabad on Saturday, is set to take up his new responsibilities following his arrival in the federal capital on Sunday. Diplomatic sources said he would call on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar on his first day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking the beginning of his tenure at a time when Pakistan faces a demanding diplomatic landscape requiring strategic vision, effective international engagement and sustained efforts to advance its national interests.
His appointment comes after a significant assignment at the United Nations, where he represented Pakistan on the Security Council and helped advance the country’s diplomatic positions on issues of international peace, security and development. His experience at the multilateral level is expected to be an important asset as Pakistan continues to navigate complex regional dynamics, strengthen its international partnerships and pursue its foreign policy priorities.
In an acknowledgment of Pakistan’s diplomatic contribution, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appreciated the country’s leading role and strong support for the United Nations and its peace and development agenda during a farewell call by Ambassador Asim before his departure from New York.
The UN chief particularly commended Pakistan’s mediation efforts and its contribution as a current member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), recognising the country’s engagement in multilateral diplomacy at a critical juncture in international affairs.
Guterres also congratulated Ambassador Asim on his appointment as foreign secretary and wished him success in his new assignment, extending a positive note of recognition to the diplomat as he prepares to lead Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The farewell meeting underscored the importance of Pakistan’s engagement with the United Nations and the role played by its diplomatic representatives in articulating national positions, building international understanding and contributing to collective efforts to address global challenges.
Ambassador Asim assumed charge as Pakistan’s 22nd permanent representative to the United Nations in April 2025. His tenure coincided with Pakistan’s membership of the Security Council, providing him with an important platform to represent the country’s positions on international peace and security and engage directly with the UN’s principal decision-making body on these matters.
A particularly significant phase of his assignment came in July 2025, when Pakistan held the presidency of the Security Council. The rotating presidency provided Pakistan with an opportunity to exercise leadership in the Council’s proceedings, facilitate deliberations and contribute to the international diplomatic process on pressing issues on the global agenda.
As Pakistan’s principal diplomatic representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Asim operated at the intersection of national interests and multilateral cooperation, requiring close engagement with member states, international institutions and senior UN officials.
His experience in New York has further strengthened his exposure to the workings of multilateral diplomacy, including negotiations, consensus-building and the management of complex international issues. These skills will be particularly relevant in his new role, which requires the coordination of Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities across bilateral, regional and multilateral fronts.
The appreciation expressed by the UN secretary-general at the conclusion of his assignment also highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s continued participation in international institutions and its engagement with the UN’s peace, security and development objectives.
Ambassador Asim’s appointment as foreign secretary represents another milestone in a diplomatic career spanning more than three decades. Since joining the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1993, he has served in several important diplomatic assignments, gaining experience in bilateral relations, multilateral institutions, public diplomacy and the formulation and communication of foreign policy.
Before his assignment at the United Nations, he served as Pakistan’s ambassador to France from 2022 to 2024, with concurrent accreditation to Monaco. He also served as Pakistan’s permanent delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), adding an important multilateral dimension to his responsibilities in Europe.
His assignment in France placed him at the forefront of Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with an important European country, while his concurrent responsibilities in Monaco and at UNESCO broadened the scope of his diplomatic work.
Earlier, Ambassador Asim served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Thailand from 2017 to 2021. During this assignment, he also represented Pakistan as its permanent representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), combining bilateral diplomatic responsibilities with engagement in regional economic and development cooperation.
His work across Europe, Southeast Asia and the United Nations has given him a broad understanding of the different priorities shaping international relations and the diplomatic approaches required to maintain effective partnerships across diverse regions.
He has also served as spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position that placed him at the centre of Pakistan’s public diplomacy and official communication on foreign policy matters.
The experience acquired in that role is particularly relevant to the foreign secretary’s office, which requires the effective coordination of diplomatic messaging, the communication of policy decisions and close institutional engagement with the political leadership, foreign missions and international counterparts.
Born in Lahore, Ambassador Asim has an academic background that combines the humanities with technical education. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Punjab before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, in 1991.
He received a gold medal for his academic performance at UET, reflecting a record of distinction before he entered the diplomatic service.
His transition from engineering to diplomacy marked the beginning of a career devoted to representing Pakistan abroad, advancing its international relationships and engaging with the political, economic and security questions that shape the global environment.
Joining the Foreign Service in 1993, he gradually assumed responsibilities in increasingly senior diplomatic positions, culminating in his appointment as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations and now his elevation to the country’s highest career diplomatic position.
As the incoming foreign secretary, Ambassador Asim will be responsible for overseeing the professional machinery of Pakistan’s foreign policy and coordinating the work of the Foreign Office and its diplomatic missions worldwide.
His new responsibilities will require him to work closely with the foreign minister, the government’s senior leadership and Pakistan’s diplomatic network to translate policy priorities into effective international engagement.
The challenges confronting Pakistan’s diplomacy include managing relations with major powers, strengthening ties with neighbouring and regional countries, deepening economic diplomacy, expanding international cooperation and effectively presenting Pakistan’s positions at multilateral forums.
His recent experience at the Security Council, combined with his earlier assignments in France, Thailand and UNESCO, offers a broad foundation for addressing these responsibilities. His familiarity with bilateral diplomacy and multilateral negotiations is also expected to contribute to the continuity and coordination of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The foreign secretary’s office occupies a pivotal position in the country’s diplomatic system, serving as a key link between political leadership, diplomatic missions and international partners. The position requires not only extensive professional experience but also the ability to coordinate diverse policy interests, guide diplomatic engagement and respond to rapidly changing international developments.
Ambassador Asim’s elevation reflects his progression through a series of important assignments in Pakistan’s diplomatic service, with his latest role at the United Nations providing immediate experience of high-level multilateral engagement.
His departure from New York follows a tenure during which Pakistan participated in the Security Council’s deliberations and held its rotating presidency. The recognition extended by Secretary-General Guterres at his farewell meeting has provided a notable conclusion to that assignment.
With his assumption of charge as the 34th foreign secretary, Ambassador Asim begins a new chapter in a career spanning more than 30 years, bringing to the Foreign Office extensive diplomatic exposure, experience of international institutions and a record of representing Pakistan in major global capitals and multilateral forums.
His appointment comes at a consequential moment for Pakistani diplomacy, with expectations that his experience, institutional knowledge and familiarity with the United Nations system will help strengthen the country’s diplomatic engagement and support its pursuit of peace, stability, economic cooperation and national interests on the international stage.