Pakistan appoints new ambassador to US

Pakistan on Friday appointed its top diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani as the country's new Ambassador to the United States. Jilani is currently holding the post of Foreign Secretary at the Foreign Ministry. "The government has decided to appoint Foreign Secretary Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani as Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States of America," the Foreign Ministry said. Jalil Abbas Jilani will join his new assignment in December. He is a career diplomat and prior to his current appointment, he served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union. He also interacted with the NATO HQ based in Brussels on regular basis. From 1990 to 1992, Ambassador Jilani served as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister's Secretariat. His other overseas assignments included: Jeddah (1983-1985), London (1985-1988), Washington (1995-1999) and High Commissioner to Canberra, Australia (2007-2009). Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1979. He was appointed as Foreign Secretary in March 2012. In 2005 he also served as the Government's Spokesman on Foreign Affairs.