Europe, Africa and Asia: Dar unveils new diplomatic appointments

ISLAMABAD: In a bold move to reshape Pakistan’s global footprint, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar unveiled new diplomatic appointments across Europe, Africa and Asia on Thursday, underlining economic diplomacy as the top priority in the country’s revamped foreign strategy.

In a post on X, Dar highlighted the achievements of Pakistan’s foreign policy over the past two years, describing it as a period of “robust engagement and international outreach.”

He urged the newly-appointed envoys to carry this momentum forward, emphasising economic diplomacy as their central mission, and to do so with “clarity of purpose and wisdom.”

The reshuffle saw several high-profile moves, with Saadia Altaf Qazi, currently Pakistan’s ambassador to Norway, appointed as ambassador to Thailand, replacing Rukhsana Afzaal in Bangkok. Asim Ali Khan will step in as ambassador to Norway, taking over from Qazi in Oslo.

Meanwhile, Salman Sharif, currently serving at the Prime Minister’s Office, has been named ambassador to Germany, succeeding Saqlain Syeda in Berlin.

In Sweden, Ahmed Amjad Ali, currently Consul General in Los Angeles, has been appointed as Pakistan’s new ambassador in Stockholm, replacing Bilal Hayee.

In the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman, Chief of Protocol at the Foreign Office, will take over as High Commissioner to London, replacing Dr Mohammad Faisal, who will return to the Foreign Office.

Tahir Hussain Andrabi, the Foreign Office spokesperson, has been named Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, replacing Bilal Ahmed.

In a related move, Bilal Ahmed has been appointed as ambassador to Kenya, replacing Ibrar Hussain Khan in Nairobi.

In Central Asia, Irfan Ahmed, Director General for Europe at the Foreign Office, has been posted as ambassador to Tajikistan, filling the vacant position in Dushanbe.

MudassirTipu, Pakistan’s current ambassador to Iran, has been named ambassador to Uzbekistan, replacing Ahmed Farooq in Tashkent.

Tipu’s reassignment paves the way for Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Secretary at the Foreign Office, to take over as ambassador to Tehran.

In Africa, Hasnain Yousaf, Director General of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) at the Foreign Office, has been appointed ambassador to Tanzania, replacing Siraj Ahmed Khan in Dar es Salaam.

Ashar Shahzad, Deputy Consul in Houston, has been named ambassador to Uganda, taking over from Hassan Wazir in Kampala.

In South Asia, Mohammad Aamir Khan, Director General for the Americas at the Foreign Office, has been appointed ambassador to Nepal, replacing Abrar Hashmi in Kathmandu.

Along with the ambassadorial changes, the government announced several consul general appointments, with Ali Anser Zaidi posted to Frankfurt, Yasir Iqbal Butt to Guangzhou, Shahbaz Hussain to Kandahar, Siraj Ahmad Khan to Los Angeles, Awais Ahmad Khan to Mazar-e-Sharif and Faisal Abro to Montreal.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026