ISLAMABAD: Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood will replace outgoing Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, who is all set to retire on April 16 after serving her two years term.
This was disclosed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a talk with journalists in Multan. He said Sohail Mahmood has been appointed foreign secretary after consultation with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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The Foreign Minister lauded outgoing foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua, who is also the first foreign secretary, for handling difficult situations in an excellent manner.
The foreign minister further said Pakistan is facing various challenges on the external front, including Indian aggression, attempts to isolate Pakistan at international level and efforts to push the Islamic Republic from grey list into black list of the Financial Action Task Force.
Sohail, who is currently severing as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, has vast diplomatic experience.
He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in October 1985. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa), Mahmood served as additional secretary for Afghanistan/West Asia as well as Director General for Americas and the Foreign Secretary’s Office among other jobs.
He has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkey, ambassador to Thailand and permanent representative to the UNESCO Bangkok for four years till 2013.
Sohail Mahmood has also served as political coordinator for Pakistan’s delegation to the UN Security Council before assuming office in Bangkok.
He has also remained counsellor to Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and a political counsellor to the Pakistani embassy in Washington.
Mahmood has received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Government College in Rawalpindi, a Masters of Arts in History from Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York.
