Breaking Boundaries: India Appoints First Woman To Lead Mission In Pakistan Since Independence

Geetika Srivastava, an IFS officer from the 2005 batch, is set to take on the role of Charge d’Affaires (CDA) in Islamabad. She will succeed Dr. M Suresh Kumar, who is expected to return to New Delhi.

Amid the current downgraded diplomatic status between the two nations, with no High Commissioners and the top diplomat being a Joint Secretary-ranked Charge d’Affaires (CDA), India has chosen a female IFS officer to head its High Commission in Pakistan.

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Presently holding the position of Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) headquarters, Srivastava is responsible for overseeing the Indo-Pacific division.

Having learned Mandarin as part of her foreign language training, she previously served at the Indian Embassy in China from 2007 to 2009. Her experience also includes roles at the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata and as the Director of the Indian Ocean Region division within the MEA.

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Since 1947, when Sri Prakasa was appointed as the Indian High Commissioner to the former Dominion of Pakistan, New Delhi’s representation has consistently been composed of male diplomats. Over the years, there have been a total of 22 heads of mission.

Ajay Bisaria, the previous Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad, was recalled when Pakistan chose to downgrade the High Commission’s status in response to the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.

“While women diplomats have previously been stationed in Pakistan, they haven’t held positions at the highest level. Additionally, Islamabad was categorized as a “non-family” posting for Indian diplomats some years ago, making it a challenging assignment for female officers, often limiting their ability to take up roles in Pakistan.”

“At present, a woman diplomat holds the position of First Secretary at the Indian High Commission.”

“Pakistan has appointed a new Charge d’Affaires (CDA) in New Delhi as well. Saad Ahmad Warraich, a seasoned diplomat with experience at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, takes over from Salman Sharif, who departed India last month and returned to Islamabad.”