ISLAMABAD: Senior career diplomat Sajjad Haider Khan has been selected as the new spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic sources said, as the Foreign Office prepares for a change in its top public-facing diplomatic communication post.
Sajjad Haider Khan, currently serving as Director General South Asia at the Foreign Office, is expected to take charge next month following the departure of incumbent spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, who has been designated Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
Formal notification expected next week
Diplomatic sources said the formal notification of Sajjad Haider Khan’s appointment is likely to be issued next week.
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Several senior diplomats were considered for the coveted position, including Additional Secretary Europe Ayesha Ali and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, before Sajjad Haider Khan emerged as the preferred choice.
Over two decades of diplomatic experience
A seasoned Foreign Service officer, Sajjad Haider Khan has more than two decades of experience in diplomacy and has held a number of important assignments involving Pakistan’s bilateral relations, regional affairs and foreign policy formulation.
His present role as DG South Asia has placed him at the heart of Pakistan’s engagement with neighbouring countries and some of the region’s most complex diplomatic challenges.
His extensive experience in regional diplomacy is expected to prove particularly significant in his new assignment, where he will be required to present Pakistan’s official position on major bilateral, regional and international developments.
Key role in Pakistan’s foreign policy messaging
The Foreign Office spokesperson’s position carries considerable strategic importance, serving as the ministry’s principal public voice on foreign policy matters and as the key channel for responding to diplomatic developments and questions from the media.
Sajjad Haider Khan’s appointment comes at a time when Pakistan is dealing with a complex regional environment, evolving relations with major powers and a rapidly shifting international diplomatic landscape.
The transition will take place after Tahir Andrabi assumes his new responsibilities in Geneva as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, paving the way for Sajjad Haider Khan to take over the Foreign Office’s diplomatic messaging from next month.
