MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 24: A Pakistani police officer of Kashmiri origin, serving in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), has been elevated as "deputy director crimes" in the main police headquarters in Pristina , the capital of the disputed UN-run Serb province, it was learnt from police sources here on Sunday.

Khalid Chauhan, an SSP rank officer in AJK police, had applied for the position of deputy regional commander, Mitrovica, but in the interviews conducted by a panel consisting of deputy police commissioners for crime and administration and director crimes, he was picked up for the senior position of 'deputy director (crimes)' at the main headquarters.

The UN Mission in Kosovo is built on four basic pillars. The international police force is under the Civil Administration pillar and is commanded by a police commissioner, who exercises all operational, technical and disciplinary authority over all police personnel. The commissioner reports to the UN Special Representative.

Mr Chauhan, 35, who joined the UN peacekeeping force in May this year, has been the only Pakistani in the mission chosen for such a prestigious and challenging slot. Presently more then 85 Pakistani police are serving in Kosovo as United Nations civilian police officers.

Mr Chauhan is a former British Chevening scholar, having done his MSC in crime, deviance and control with distinction from London School of Economics and Political Science in 2001.

Earlier he had earned his MA in English language and literature from University of Punjab.