In a noteworthy development, the Indian government has named Geetika Srivastava, a distinguished 2005 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, as the head of the chargé d’affaires at the Indian high commission in Islamabad. Currently serving as a joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs’ Indo-Pacific division, Ms. Srivastava’s appointment marks a significant stride in diplomatic roles.
This appointment is particularly historic as Ms. Srivastava becomes the first woman diplomat to take up the post of chargé d’affaires at the Indian high commission in Islamabad. She brings with her a wealth of experience and a career adorned with various diplomatic accomplishments.
The current Indian chargé d’affaires in Islamabad, Suresh Kumar, is anticipated to soon return to New Delhi, according to reliable sources. Conversely, Saad Warraich, who presently holds the position of director general for the Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey desk at Pakistan’s foreign ministry, is set to assume the role of chargé d’affaires in New Delhi.
The reshuffle is a part of the ongoing diplomatic recalibration between the two nations. Salman Sharif, the previous Pakistani chargé d’affaires, was recently summoned back to Islamabad, emblematic of the evolving dynamics.
Geetika Srivastava’s deployment to Islamabad is anticipated to take place in the near future, thereby bolstering the diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan. It is noteworthy that both the Indian and Pakistani missions in Islamabad and New Delhi have been without high commissioners since August 2019, following the diplomatic repercussions stemming from the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status by the Indian government. This decision has since fueled strained relations between the two nations, exacerbated by a series of terrorist incidents on Indian soil.
Ms. Srivastava’s illustrious career spans various assignments, including a tenure at the Indian embassy in China from 2007 to 2009. She has also held significant roles such as serving at the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata and directing the Indian Ocean Region division within the Ministry of External Affairs. With her wealth of experience and expertise, her appointment is poised to make a pivotal impact on the diplomatic landscape between India and Pakistan.
