Pakistan’s incoming Consul General to Saudi Arabia, Aftab Ahmed Khokar, has represented his nation during some of its toughest times in his long career with Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. He represented Pakistan in international forums while serving at its permanent mission in Geneva.
He raised the topic of excavation work around Islam’s third holy shine, Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries and demanded the implementation of the recommendations of Judge Richard Goldstone in the United Nations fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict.
Khokar, a career diplomat with 23 years of experience in the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was due to arrive in Jeddah yesterday to take up his new role in Jeddah as consul general. He was working in the Pakistani Parliament division in Islamabad prior to this posting.
While speaking with Arab News over phone from Islamabad, Khokar said that the welfare of the Pakistani community is the main objective for him.
This will be first his posting in the Gulf region.
His predecessor Abdul Salik Khan, who had worked from March 2010 to December 2012, is now posted at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Islamabad.
New Pak consul general coming with a vision for the community
New Pak consul general coming with a vision for the community
Saudi Arabia to host ‘dialogue’ between southern Yemeni factions
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has invited factions in south Yemen to hold a dialogue in Riyadh to “discuss just solutions to the southern cause.”
The ministry statement said the conference in the Saudi capital had been requested by Rashad Al-Alimi, President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, and the Kingdom urged all factions to participate “to develop a comprehensive vision” that would fulfill the aspirations of the southern people.
The separatist Southern Transitional Council has recently seized territory in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra.
Saudi Arabia said the STC action poses a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security, and regional stability.
Earlier this week, the military coalition supporting Yemen’s government carried out airstrikes targeting a shipment of weapons and vehicles destined for southern separatist forces. The shipment arrived in the port of Al-Mukalla on two vessels.
Saudi Arabia has reiterated the only way to bring the southern cause to a resolution is through dialogue.
Gulf and Arab countries on Tuesday offered their support for the internationally recognized government in Yemen.
