Veteran diplomat Asim named Pakistan's foreign secretary as Amna retires

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, was designated as the country's next foreign secretary, succeeding Ambassador Amna Baloch.

However, no-one has been named yet as the new Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

"I am delighted to announce Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who is currently Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, will be the next foreign secretary,” announced Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on his X account.

He said that under Asim Iftikhar Ahmad’s leadership, the Foreign Office will continue to advance Pakistan’s interests with clarity, professionalism and purpose, building on the important work undertaken by Ambassador Amna Baloch and all her predecessors.

Dar also took to the social media to announce the retirement of Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.

“The 33rd Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Ambassador Amna Baloch, after a distinguished career spanning over three decades and her tenure as foreign secretary since September 11, will retire from government service on September 17, 2026.

“I commend her dedicated service and leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a consequential period in Pakistan’s diplomatic history.”

The announcement was made after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif approved Ambassador Asim`s posting. He would be the country's 34th foreign secretary.

The outgoing ambassador in Turkey was a retired commerce secretary and had served in the position on post retirement contract. He had been in the position for almost four years exceeding the normal tenure by a year.The new foreign secretary is a career diplomat born in Lahore on Nov.27, 1966, as per his profile on the website of Pakistan's mission to the UN in New York.

This means the new foreign secretary would also retire in couple of months` time and would have an extended tenure.

Ambassador Asim is currently busy in New York with UNGA`s 81st session, which will run till the end of the month. He is, therefore, unlikely to immediately assume the new assignment and Special Secretary Nabeel Munir is expected to be the acting foreign secretary during the transition period.

"Looking forward to carrying out together this responsibility in advancing supreme national interest," Ambassador Asim Ahmad wrote on X following Mr Dar`s announcement.

Career Ambassador Asim Ahmad joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1993. He is a gold medallist from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore and the University of the Punjab.

He has been serving as permanent representative in New York since April 2025, where he succeeded Ambassador Munir Akram.

During Pakistan`s term on the Security Council he served as Council President in July 2025.

His earlier postings include envoy to France and Monaco and permanent delegate to Unesco (2022-2024), spokesperson and additional secretary at FO (20212022), and ambassador to Thailand and permanent representative to Unescap (2017-2021).

He previously served two stints at Pakistan`s UN Mission in New York, including as political coordinator during Security Council terms in 2003-04 and 2012-13, and as Deputy Chef de Cabinet to the UN General Assembly President in 2009-10.