Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Ghulam Dastagir has been transferred as Ambassador to the UAE, while the incumbent there, Moazzam Ahmad Khan has been posted special secretary at the Foreign Office in Islamabad as part of the appointment of new ambassadors and consul generals to 18 countries, including the important posting of High Commissioner to neighboring India.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, made the announcements on Monday following consultations with the country’s Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“I wish the newly-appointed officers good luck, and hope they represent Pakistan with utmost dignity and effectiveness,” said Qureshi in a tweet on Tuesday.
Current ambassador of Pakistan to France, Moin-ul-Haq, has been appointed as Pakistan’s new High Commissioner to India. A career diplomat who joined the Foreign Service in 1987, Moin-ul-Haq has previously been the chief of protocol at the Foreign Office and has served in Turkey, Canada and Sri Lanka.
Appointment of the new High Commissioner comes amid tense relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Having a veteran diplomat to head the high commission is seen as being vital to both countries.
Announcing the appointment, Mr. Qureshi said that with the election process in India now almost over, new engagement between Islamabad and New Delhi could be restarted. The post of high commissioner to India fell vacant in April when the then High Commissioner Sohail Mehmood was appointed as the new Foreign-Secretary of Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed his hope that the newly-appointed envoys would play a pivotal role in promoting the soft image of Pakistan and serve the Pakistanis living overseas.
He said reshuffling and appointments of ambassadors had been due for a long time. “Those who were appointed on Monday will perform their duties with the best of their abilities and will help improve trade, investment and Pakistan’s image in the world.”