Ali Asad Gilani to succeed Khalil Hashmi as Pakistan’s Ambassador to China: Dar

Says Gilani will further advance the Pakistan-China all-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar said on Friday that Ali Asad Gilani would succeed Khalil Hashmi as Pakistan’s Ambassador to China.

In a post on X, Dar said Hashmi would join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) next week following the successful completion of his tenure as Pakistan’s ambassador to China.

“Mr. Khalil Hashmi will be joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs next week,” Dar said, adding that he had made an “important contribution to further advancing the close and enduring Pakistan-China friendship”.

“I am pleased to share that Mr. Ali Asad Gilani will succeed him as Pakistan’s next Ambassador to China,” Dar said.

Following successful completion of his tenure as Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Mr. Khalil Hashmi will be joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs next week. He has made important contribution to further advancing the close and enduring Pakistan-China friendship.

I am pleased to…

— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) September 11, 2026

Having served at important positions at the MoFA, Gilani would “further advance the Pakistan China all-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” and build on the important work undertaken by his predecessors, Dar said.

“My best wishes to both Ambassadors for their respective assignments,” he added.

Asim Iftikhar made new foreign secretary

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday appointed Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, as the country’s next foreign secretary, bringing one of the Foreign Office’s (FO) most experienced multilateral diplomats back to Islamabad at a time of heightened geopolitical challenges.

FM Dar announced the appointment, saying PM Shehbaz had approved the assignment. Ambassador Iftikhar will succeed Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, who is due to retire from government service on September 17 after serving in the top diplomatic position since September 2024.

Read: Pakistan is pressing US and Iran to resume talks despite lingering mistrust: UN envoy

Dar praised the outgoing foreign secretary for her “dedicated service and leadership” of the FO during what he described as a consequential period in Pakistan’s diplomatic history.

Iftikhar, currently Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, will take charge of the FO after a diplomatic career spanning more than three decades.