Tirmizi takes over as Pak envoy to Russia

ISAMABAD: Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s ambassador for Russia, has assumed charged in Moscow.

He was the country’s envoy for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from where he was transferred to Russia. Diplomatic sources told this correspondent here Monday that as per tradition the ambassador was supposed to come to the headquarters and seek briefing from the authorities concerned, besides meeting the high-ups, including the president, prime minister and foreign minister but he was directed to rush to Moscow. Fluent in several international languages including Russian, Faisal Tirmizi has served earlier in Central Asian States, where Russian language is spoken.

Special Foreign Secretary Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan has been asked by the government to reach Abu Dhabi without any delay as new ambassador for the UAE. The sources said that Ambassador Shafqat is leaving for his assignment this week. Pakistan’s former ambassador for Russia Muhammad Khalid Jamali has been made additional foreign secretary for administration and Europe, the sources added.