Amna Baloch Appointed Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye After Retirement

ISLAMABAD, September 10: The Government of Pakistan has decided to appoint Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye after her retirement, while Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has been appointed as the country’s new Foreign Secretary.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar announced the diplomatic appointments on Wednesday, September 9, saying that Amna Baloch would retire from government service on September 17, 2026, after more than three decades of diplomatic and public service. She will assume charge as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye after her retirement.

Ishaq Dar appreciated Amna Baloch’s leadership of the Foreign Ministry and her services during a challenging period marked by complex regional and global developments. He expressed his best wishes for her future assignment and said she would continue to represent Pakistan with distinction in her new role.

According to the announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the appointments. Following Amna Baloch’s retirement, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad will take charge as the new Foreign Secretary. He is currently serving as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Ishaq Dar expressed confidence that Asim Iftikhar Ahmad would lead the Foreign Ministry with professionalism, clarity and purpose and would build on the important work carried out by his predecessors, including Amna Baloch.

Amna Baloch is Pakistan’s 33rd Foreign Secretary and assumed the position in September 2024. During her diplomatic career, she has served in several important positions, including as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia and Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Her appointment as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye comes at a time when Islamabad and Ankara maintain close relations and extensive cooperation in political, diplomatic, defence and economic fields. The two countries have continued high-level consultations on bilateral, regional and international issues.

The appointment is particularly significant given the longstanding strategic partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye and the regular exchange of high-level visits and diplomatic consultations between the two countries.

Amna Baloch will not immediately take charge as ambassador. Under the announced arrangement, she will complete her tenure as Foreign Secretary and retire from government service on September 17 before assuming her new diplomatic assignment in Türkiye.