First Hindu officer to head Pakistan mission in Moscow

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Muhammad Khalid Jamali has relinquished his charge in Moscow and reported back to headquarters.

Highly placed diplomatic sources told The News on Saturday that Giyan Chand, the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Chancery at Pakistan’s Embassy in Moscow, has taken on the role of Chargé d’Affaires of Pakistan to Russia. He is the first Hindu officer of the Foreign Service to head a mission in one of the P5 (Permanent Five) countries in Pakistan’s history. Giyan Chand will oversee two major events as Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in the Russian capital: the four-nation (Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia) consultations on Afghanistan, followed by the “Moscow Format” multilateral forum on the Afghan issue next week.

Giyan Chand is among three non-Muslim Foreign Service officers currently serving in Moscow. The other two are Jetha Nand (Second Secretary) and Arthur Joshua Edwin (Third Secretary). Pakistan has appointed Faisal Niaz Tirmizi as the new Ambassador to Russia. He is currently serving as Pakistan’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Russian government has formally accepted his appointment, and he is expected to arrive in Moscow next month.

Meanwhile, Additional Foreign Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shafqat Ali Khan will be Pakistan’s next Ambassador to the UAE. His appointment has also been formally approved by the UAE government, and he is scheduled to assume his duties in Abu Dhabi next month.

Sources further indicated that Ambassador Muhammad Khalid Jamali is likely to be appointed Additional Foreign Secretary upon his return to Islamabad, where he is expected to take over the Administration Division at headquarters. Jamali has previously held several important positions during his career.