ABU DHABI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Shafqat Ali Khan, has been appointed as Pakistan’s first ambassador to Armenia.
According to the announcement, Shafqat Ali Khan will serve as Pakistan’s non-resident ambassador to Armenia, while continuing his responsibilities as Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE.
The appointment marks an important development in Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with Armenia and represents a step toward strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
As a non-resident ambassador, Shafqat Ali Khan will handle Pakistan’s diplomatic responsibilities toward Armenia without being permanently stationed in the Armenian capital. His primary diplomatic posting will remain in the UAE.
The appointment is expected to provide an institutional framework for expanding contacts between Islamabad and Yerevan and facilitate greater engagement on diplomatic, economic and other areas of mutual interest.
Pakistan’s decision to appoint its first ambassador to Armenia also reflects the country’s evolving diplomatic relations with Yerevan. A dedicated ambassadorial appointment can help improve communication between the two governments and provide a channel for discussing bilateral and regional matters.
Shafqat Ali Khan is currently serving as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. In his new role, he will hold responsibility for representing Pakistan in Armenia on a non-resident basis.
The arrangement means that the ambassador will be accredited to Armenia while continuing to be based in Abu Dhabi.
The appointment is significant because the first ambassadorial designation establishes a formal diplomatic link at the ambassadorial level. It could pave the way for increased official exchanges and cooperation between Pakistan and Armenia in the future.
The ambassador is expected to engage with Armenian authorities on matters concerning bilateral relations and represent Pakistan’s position on issues of mutual interest.
The move also gives Pakistan an opportunity to explore areas where cooperation with Armenia can be expanded, including trade, investment, tourism, education and people-to-people contacts.
For Armenia, the appointment provides a direct diplomatic channel with Pakistan and could facilitate communication with Islamabad on regional and international issues.
Shafqat Ali Khan’s existing diplomatic responsibilities in the UAE mean that his new assignment will be carried out alongside his current posting. As a non-resident ambassador, he will not be required to relocate permanently to Armenia.
The appointment is therefore expected to allow Pakistan to maintain diplomatic representation in Armenia while using its existing diplomatic infrastructure and personnel resources in the region.
The development comes as countries increasingly use non-resident ambassadors to maintain diplomatic relations with nations where they do not have permanent embassies or resident diplomatic missions.
Pakistan’s appointment of Shafqat Ali Khan as its first ambassador to Armenia is consequently an important step in the formal development of relations between Islamabad and Yerevan.
His role will involve maintaining diplomatic contacts, representing Pakistan before Armenian authorities and working to promote bilateral cooperation.
The appointment is also likely to encourage further engagement between officials and institutions of the two countries. Future diplomatic exchanges could focus on strengthening political dialogue and identifying opportunities for cooperation in economic and social sectors.
For now, Shafqat Ali Khan will perform his duties as Pakistan’s first ambassador to Armenia on a non-resident basis, while continuing to serve as Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE.
The appointment adds Armenia to the diplomatic responsibilities of Pakistan’s ambassador in Abu Dhabi and marks a new chapter in Pakistan-Armenia diplomatic relations.
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