{
  "id": 6448715,
  "title": "Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar named new foreign secretary",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/pakistans-un-envoy-asim-iftikhar-named-new-foreign-secretary",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T17:29:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2028658/pakistans-un-envoy-asim-iftikhar-named-new-foreign-secretary"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, would take on the role of the country's new foreign secretary. In a statement on X, Dar expressed his delight at the appointment, stating that he is confident Ambassador Ahmad will continue to advance Pakistan's interests with clarity, professionalism, and purpose. He also paid tribute to Amna Baloch, the current foreign secretary, for her extensive service and leadership during a critical period in Pakistan's diplomatic history. Baloch, who has been serving as the 33rd foreign secretary since September 11, 2024, will retire from government service on September 17 and assume the role of Pakistan's ambassador to Türkiye. Dar confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approved both appointments.",
  "summary": "Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday announced the appointment of Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, as the country’s new foreign secretary. “I am delighted to also announce that Ambassador Ahmad, who is currently Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, will be the next Foreign Secretary of Pakistan,” FM Dar said in…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar named new foreign secretary",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/pakistans-un-envoy-asim-iftikhar-named-new-foreign-secretary-6448878",
        "published": "2026-09-09T17:29:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Joint Statement by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/joint-statement-by-ministers-of-foreign-affairs-of-the-uae-egypt",
        "published": "2026-09-09T17:37:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Asim Iftikhar named Pakistan’s new foreign secretary",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/asim-iftikhar-named-pakistans-new-foreign-secretary",
        "published": "2026-09-09T18:48:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "South Africa, Saudi Arabia boost tourism ties to ease pilgrim journeys [VIDEO]",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/south-africa-saudi-arabia-boost-tourism-ties-to-ease-pilgrim-journeys",
        "published": "2026-09-09T20:00:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}