ISLAMABAD – Foreign Office is facing an unexpected challenge in finding a new spokesperson following the appointment of incumbent spokesperson Tahir Andrabi as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva. Two senior diplomats have declined to take over the high-profile position, it was learnt on Saturday.
According to diplomatic sources, former ambassador to the United Kingdom Dr Muhammad Faisal and the Foreign Office’s Additional Secretary for Europe Ambassador Ayesha Ali were separately approached for the spokesperson’s position. However, both senior career officers politely declined the offer, citing personal reasons.
Dr Muhammad Faisal who served as spokesperson of foreign Ministry for three long years from 2017 to 2019 is considered top expert on South Asia and India, but he too declined to accept the position second time. The development has left the Foreign Office searching for a suitable candidate at a time when Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement is becoming increasingly complex and the spokesperson’s office has emerged as one of the most demanding assignments in the country’s foreign policy domain.
Till the appointment of new spokesperson ambassador Tahir Andrabi has been asked by DPM/ Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar to continue his current responsibilities.Diplomatic sources said the next spokesperson will have to navigate an exceptionally challenging security and geopolitical environment.
Besides articulating Pakistan’s position on developments in Afghanistan, the Iran-United States conflict, and evolving regional dynamics, the spokesperson will also be responsible for effectively presenting Islamabad’s stance on its strategic partnerships with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Another major challenge, officials and diplomatic observers say, is responding swiftly and effectively to what Pakistan describes as an aggressive Indian propaganda campaign and information warfare targeting the country’s security, foreign policy and international image.The Foreign Office spokesperson is often the first official voice required to rebut allegations, counter misinformation and present Pakistan’s position before the international community, making the office a critical component of the country’s strategic communications.
Unlike in the past, the role now demands round-the-clock engagement with domestic and international media, rapid responses to breaking developments, and the ability to communicate complex diplomatic and security issues with clarity and credibility.
Officials familiar with the matter said the government is keen to appoint a seasoned career diplomat capable of handling one of the Foreign Office’s most visible and strategically important portfolios.
With Tahir Andrabi preparing to assume his new assignment in Geneva, the search for his successor has gained urgency. The appointment is expected to be closely watched, as the new spokesperson will assume office at a time when Pakistan’s diplomacy is confronting multiple regional crises, heightened information warfare, and an increasingly demanding international media landscape.
Unlike in previous decades, the Foreign Office spokesperson today operates at the intersection of diplomacy, strategic communications and information warfare.
