Nation special report
LONDON: A senior diplomat Aftab Hasan Khan has been appointed as Charge’d Affairs to New Delhi with immediate effect. He was Head of Chancery at Pakistan High Commission in London about ten years before when veteran journalist Wajid Shamsul Hasan was high commissioner.
Pakistan and India have downgraded their relations since August last Year following New Delhi’s measures in J&K. Aftab Hasan Khan has been working at PHC in New Delhi for the last three years as Minister looking after Kashmir Affairs and bilateral matters.
Aftab Hasan Khan studied Russian language from Moscow State University and was posted to Moscow twice. He also served at Pakistan High Commission, London between 2009-2013. In London, he was focal person for Memogate proceedings and settlement of Malala Yousufzai in Birmingham.
In Foreign Ministry, he has served on India desk, West Europe and protocol. He is well qualified and got masters in Political Science and History. He has also served in Moscow as Charge’d Affairs for six months during Ukraine crisis.
According to sources, though he has completed his usual tenure in India, he has been asked to continue there in view of present situation of bilateral relations between the two countries.
It is learnt that Pakistan’s Acting High Commissioner for India Syed Haider Shah has been posted as Ambassador for Nepal.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Ayub, Deputy HC in London at the moment, has been promoted to Ambassador and posted in Bahrain.
Mohammad Ayub will leave for UAE to take over the new responsibilities soon.
Present Ambassador to Bahrain Afzal Mahmood has been appointed on the same position in UAE. The post in UAE was vacant three months ago when Ghulam Dastagir attained superannuation and left for Islamabad. Afzal Mahmood will be assuming the assignment in Abu Dhabi upon receipt of his agreement (consent of appointment from the host country Afzal Mahmood was appointed envoy to Bahrain in August 2018.