Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India appointed new Foreign Secretary
Gulf News had tipped him as the front-runner in the most coveted diplomatic post
Dubai: Sohail Mahmood, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, will be the new Foreign Secretary of the country.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced Sohail’s appointment on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters, Qureshi said that the decision to appoint Mahmood foreign secretary had been made following discussions with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Mahmood will replace Tehmina Janjua, who will retire on April 16. Qureshi said that he had already spoken to Mahmood on Saturday and congratulated him on his new appointment.
Who is Sohail Mahmood?
Mahmood has received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Government College in Rawalpindi, a Masters of Arts in History from Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York.
He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in October 1985. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa), Mahmood served ─ among other positions ─ as Additional Secretary for Afghanistan/West Asia as well as Director General for the Americas and the Foreign Secretary’s Office.
His foreign assignments for Pakistan include the role of ambassador to Thailand and Turkey. He has also remained counsellor to Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and a political counsellor to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington.
Foreign Secretary
Foreign secretary (FS) is the most important diplomatic position in Pakistan as the FS is the most powerful diplomat in terms of implementing foreign policy. All he diplomats including Ambassadors and Consul Generals also report to him.
The Foreign Secretary’s job is even more significant given the current scenario as Pakistan struggles to revive its image as a global player. In recent months, Pakistan has improved ties with the US and Gulf countries, and has played a significant role to bring the Afghan Taliban on the talks table with the US.