In a major development, Ambassador Dr. Asad Majeed Khan has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary of Pakistan.
According to the details, the Establishment Division has issued the notification of the appointment of Dr. Asad Majeed Khan as the 31st Foreign Secretary. He will assume his new responsibilities on May 10.
Asad Majeed has replaced Sohail Mahmood who served Pakistan as the Foreign Secretary from April 17, 2019, to September 29, 2022.
Read more: Shehbaz Sharif raises question on US diplomat Donald Lu threatening Pakistan
Previously, Asad Majeed was posted as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Belgium, the European Union, and Luxembourg. In addition, he also served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States from January 11, 2019, to March 24, 2022. He was also the ambassador for Japan before moving to the United States.
Ambassador Dr Asad Majeed appointed as Secretary Foreign Affairs @ForeignOfficePk @mqakhokhar @asadmk17 pic.twitter.com/LQxY1c9aUS
— Naveed Akbar (@naveedakbarch) December 2, 2022
Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, presently posted as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Belgium, the European Union and Luxembourg has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary. @asadmk17 pic.twitter.com/oZF5oRyz5F
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 2, 2022
Pertinent to mention that Asad Majeed came to the limelight when his name was mentioned in the PTI’s narrative of the US regime change conspiracy. To clarify, amid the controversial vote of no confidence, the then Prime Minister Imran Khan had claimed that a Western power was conspiring to dislodge him and his government by sending a threatening letter.
During his 27th March power rally, former PM Imran Khan brandished the alleged letter and revealed the news for the first time. The former premier claimed that US diplomat Donald Lu, was involved in the ‘foreign conspiracy’ to topple his government. Additionally, Imran Khan claimed that Donald Lu warned the then-Pakistani envoy to the US, Dr. Asad Majeed.
Read more: DG ISI told NSC meeting he ‘sees no conspiracy’: Asad Umar
The claim was based on Dr. Majeed’s conversation with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu. According to Imran Khan, the US official threatened Pakistan of dire consequences if the vote of no-confidence against the PTI leader did not succeed.
Dr. Asad Majeed Khan is also reported to have reiterated his stance, in the second meeting of the National Security Council, towards the content of cipher and the mode of communication chosen by US officials during his meeting in Washington.