New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI) Geetika Srivastava, currently serving as joint secretary at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), will be India’s new chargé d’affaires at its high commission in Islamabad, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.
She will succeed Suresh Kumar who is likely to return to New Delhi.
Srivastava, a 2005 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as a joint secretary in the MEA’s Indo-Pacific division.
The Indian and Pakistani high commissions in Islamabad and Delhi are being headed by their respective charge d’affaires after Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties following India’s decision to withdraw the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
Ms. Srivastava is expected to take up her assignment in Islamabad shortly, said one of the people familiar with the matter.
Challenging role
Srivastava’s assignment comes at a challenging time, as the diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have been strained due to various factors, including terrorism breeding from Pakistani soil.
After India decided to abrogate Article 370, which revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, in August 2019, Islamabad downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi.
Now, the high commissions in Islamabad and New Delhi are led by respective charge d’affaires.
Historically, India has always been represented by male diplomats in its missions, and this appointment is the first in Indian diplomacy.
