Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said on Saturday that diplomacy must keep pace with a shifting global order, moving beyond classic state-to-state practice toward tools that reflect how power and influence work today. In a message for Foreign Service of Pakistan Day, he argued that economic and public diplomacy, strategic communication and emerging technologies are now central to how countries engage and protect their interests.
Speaking from Islamabad, he urged Pakistan’s diplomats to widen their horizons, welcome innovation, and build the capacity not only to react to change but to anticipate and help shape it. The Foreign Office spokesperson carried his remarks in a press release marking the day.
What the foreign secretary emphasised
Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar framed the occasion as more than a ceremonial milestone. He said generations of Pakistani diplomats had served with dedication, professionalism and quiet resolve, often working through hard challenges with limited resources but a clear sense of purpose. Their record, he said, remains both strength and inspiration for those now in the field.
He also placed the celebration in what he called a significant phase of Pakistan’s diplomatic journey. Growing geopolitical relevance, wider international engagement, and a recognised role in fostering dialogue, building bridges and supporting peaceful solutions, he argued, show the continuing value of principled and purposeful diplomacy.
Those gains, he added, should build confidence while also imposing a heavier duty: to hold the momentum, open new avenues, and treat people as the service’s greatest asset. He pointed to the talent and fresh thinking of younger colleagues, the expanding role of women diplomats, and the shared experience of officers as the base for a dynamic, inclusive and forward-looking Foreign Service.
Why adaptive diplomacy matters
The foreign secretary linked adaptation to outcomes that matter for the state. Keeping up with a changing world, he said, also means helping to steer its course so that Pakistan’s voice is heard, its interests are advanced, and its place among nations is strengthened. In that framing, economic outreach, public engagement, clear strategic messaging and new technologies are not optional extras but core instruments of modern diplomacy.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar ne Foreign Service Day par kaha ke duniya badal rahi hai, is liye diplomacy bhi purane andaaz se aage barhe. Ab sirf purani statecraft kaafi nahi; economic diplomacy, public engagement, strategic communication aur nayi technology zaroori hain. Unhon ne Pakistani diplomats ki mehnat ki taareef ki aur jawan officers aur khawateen diplomats ko service ki taaqat bataya. Matlab yeh hai ke Pakistan apni awaz aur masalih ko behtar tareeqay se duniya tak pahunchana chahta hai.
