ISLAMABAD, July 30: Syed Ibne Abbas, director of the Kashmir Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took over as the director-general of the South Asia division here on Saturday.

He replaced Jalil Abbas Jilani, who was also Foreign Office spokesman since February 2005, and relinquished charge last week. Mr Jilani is proceeding to the National Defence College, Islamabad, for a 10-month mandatory course that begins next week. He was appointed director-general South Asia division in February 2003.

Syed Ibne Abbas is a career diplomat and was previously director Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. His last posting abroad was in India as Counsellor (political) at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. He has also served in Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Australia and Switzerland.—QA