{
  "id": 6456984,
  "title": "Asim Iftikhar named Pakistan’s new foreign secretary",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/asim-iftikhar-named-pakistans-new-foreign-secretary",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T18:48:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Times",
    "slug": "daily-times",
    "url": "https://dailytimes.com.pk/1550522/asim-iftikhar-named-pakistans-new-foreign-secretary/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Pakistan has appointed a new foreign secretary, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad. He is currently Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the appointment on Wednesday through a post on X.\n\nIshaq Dar expressed confidence in Ahmad's ability to lead the Foreign Office. Ahmad will succeed Amna Baloch, who has been serving as Pakistan's 33rd foreign secretary since September. According to Dar, Baloch will assume charge as Pakistan's ambassador to Türkiye after her retirement.\n\nThe appointments were approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Dar commended Baloch for her dedicated service and leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "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",
        "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": "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."
}