WASHINGTON: Ali Jahangir Siddiqui took charge as Pakistan’s ambassador tothe United States on Wednesday barely 48 hours before the end of governmentin Islamabad.
Siddiqui arrived in Washington, DC Monday night ahead of his swearing-andreplaced outgoing Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry, the former foreign secretarywho served as Pakistan’s envoy to the US before his retirement last month.
He was welcomed at the airport by Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, the deputy chief ofPakistan Mission to the US.
Siddiqui assumes office just a few days ahead of the completion of theincumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government’s term.
The US Department of State took almost two months — otherwise, a routine —to send out an agreement to pave the way for the new ambassador’sappointment.
Siddiqui has to present his credentials to US President Donald Trump in thecoming weeks to be fully operational to perform his duties. He has dauntingchallenges to surmount ahead as well, given the souring US-Pakistan ties.