Asim Iftikhar to be country’s next foreign secretary: DPM Dar

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday announced that Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who is currently Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), will be the next foreign secretary of the country.

In a post on X, DPM Dar said: “I am confident that, under Ambassador Asim’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.”

He maintained that Baloch, the 33rd Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, would retire from government service on September 17, 2026, after a distinguished career spanning more than three decades.

He commended Baloch’s dedicated service and leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a consequential period in Pakistan’s diplomatic history.

“Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch leaves behind a legacy of dedicated public service, and carries with her our warmest wishes,” the DPM added.

He added that Baloch would assume charge as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye after her retirement, expressing confidence that she would continue to serve Pakistan with distinction in her new role.

He further said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approved the assignments.

Asim Iftikhar — a brief profile

Iftikhar joined the Foreign Service in 1993. In a diplomatic career spanning three decades, Iftikhar has made his mark working across regions from Europe and Africa to Asia and the United Nations at various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan’s Missions abroad.

From November 2022 to December 2024, he was Pakistan’s ambassador to France and Monaco, and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

Before assuming his post in Paris, Iftikhar held key assignment as the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson from August 2021 to November 2022. Simultaneously, during that period, he headed first the Asia Pacific Division and then the United Nations & Economic Diplomacy Division as Additional Foreign Secretary.

Previously, he served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Thailand from 2017 to 2021. His first diplomatic assignment was in Niamey, Niger (1997-2000).

At the Foreign Ministry, he has also carried out responsibilities in the Personnel, Europe and Africa Divisions.

Iftikhar has distinguished himself in particular in multilateral diplomacy, from leadership positions at the ministry, to important roles and assignments at the UN in New York and Geneva, besides being the country’s Permanent Representative to UNESCAP (Bangkok) and UNESCO (Paris) where he was also the Vice Chair (Asia Pacific Group) in the Executive Board and Vice Chair of the General Conference.

Heading the UN Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he oversaw wide range of areas from peace and security to development, climate change and human rights at Pakistan’s Missions in New York, Geneva, Rome, Vienna, Paris and Nairobi, besides the work of the UN system in Pakistan.

His prior experience in New York (2003-9 and 2012-14) included responsibilities for political, peace and security and reform issues, acting as the focal point for the Security Council, reform of the Security Council, political issues in the General Assembly, Special Political and Decolonisation (4th) Committee, conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace-building.

Iftikhar is a graduate of the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (1991, Electrical Engineering, Gold Medal), and the University of the Punjab, Lahore (1988, Bachelor of Arts, Gold Medal).

Born on 27 November 1966 in Lahore, Iftikhar is married to Asma, and they have three daughters.