WASHINGTON: Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed has officially assumed his role as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
He presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. During the ceremony, Ambassador Asim reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the UN Charter and multilateral diplomacy.
Secretary-General Guterres congratulated Ambassador Asim and wished him success in his new position. Ambassador Asim succeeds Munir Akram, who completed his term on March 31, 2025.
Ambassador Asim joined Pakistan’s Foreign Service in 1993. He has held key diplomatic positions across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the UN. He has also served in Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and various diplomatic missions.
From November 2022 to December 2024, he was Pakistan’s Ambassador to France and Monaco. He was also the Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. Prior to that, he served as Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson from August 2021 to November 2022.
Ambassador Asim has held leadership roles in the Asia-Pacific Division and the United Nations & Economic Diplomacy Division. He served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand from 2017 to 2021. His first diplomatic posting was in Niamey, Niger, from 1997 to 2000.
Ambassador Asim has played a key role in multilateral diplomacy. He has held leadership positions at the UN in New York and Geneva. He represented Pakistan at UNESCAP and UNESCO, serving as Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Group at UNESCO’s Executive Board and Vice President of the UNESCO General Conference.
He attended UN General Assembly sessions from 2003 to 2008, 2011 to 2016, and in 2022. He represented Pakistan at the African Union, OIC, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), ASEAN, and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). In 2009-2010, he was Deputy Chief of Cabinet to the UN General Assembly President.
Ambassador Asim holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. He also has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Punjab, Lahore.
In 2003-2004 and 2012-2013, he was a key member of Pakistan’s UN Security Council team. He served as Political Coordinator and represented Pakistan in UNSC missions on West Africa, Somalia, Sudan, and the Great Lakes region.
At the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Asim led the UN Division. He worked on peace and security, climate change, development, and human rights. His expertise includes political and security affairs, peacekeeping, UN reforms, and conflict resolution.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed brings decades of experience to his new role. He reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to global diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
