ISLAMABAD, March 20: The government on Tuesday announced the appointment of Jalil Abbas Jilani, foreign ministry’s point-man on India, as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Australia.

He will replace High Commissioner Babar Malik who is returning by end of April.

Mr Jilani, who is currently serving as director-general (South Asia Division) at the Foreign Ministry, is expected to proceed to Australia in mid-May to take up his new assignment.

His last posting abroad was in India where he first served as the Deputy High Commissioner at New Delhi and later assumed charge as the Acting High Commissioner from 2002 to 2003. When tensions peaked between the two countries he was declared persona non grata by the Indian government on fabricated charges and asked to leave. On return he took over as director-general South Asia Division and after the resumption of the Composite Dialogue with India in 2004 he kept going back to New Delhi to represent Pakistan side at several rounds of peace talks.

Mr Jilani, who is by far the longest serving director-general of South Asia Division, has been the ministry’s point-man on India for almost half a decade. He was also given additional charge of the Foreign Office Spokesperson in 2005.

A career diplomat, Mr Jilani joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in March 1979. He has served in diplomatic missions in key world capitals including Washington, London and Jeddah since the mid-eighties.

At the headquarters he has worked in important divisions including UN, US, India and Saarc. He also served as Deputy Secretary, Prime Minister’s Secretariat from 1989 to 1992.

Mr Jilani holds a Bachelors degree in Law and M.Sc. in Defence and Strategic Studies.