ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister of Pakistan and a renowned diplomat Abdul Sattar passed away on Sunday.

He was 88.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that former foreign minister Abdul Sattar has passed away,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

Mr Sattar was an illustrious diplomat and an accomplished author, he added.

Besides serving as foreign minister for two non-consecutive terms — in 1993 (as caretaker) and later in 1999-2002, Mr Sattar had also served as Pakistan’s foreign secretary from 1986 to 1988.

His career also included his stints as Pakistan’s ambassador to Austria, India and the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2019