Ashraf Jehangir Qazi

Born in 1942, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi built his career through diplomatic assignments in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East. In Islamabad he directed East Asian affairs and later worked on Afghanistan and policy planning. He became ambassador to Syria, East Germany, the Soviet Union and Russian Federation, and China before taking charge of Pakistan’s high commission in India in 1997. ¹

Qazi served in Washington from 2002 to 2004, during Pakistan’s renewed security partnership with the United States after September 11. At the National Press Club in December 2002, he defended cooperation against terrorism while emphasizing its costs to Pakistan. He urged broader economic ties and a more active American role in encouraging dialogue between India and Pakistan. ^{1, 2}

In 2004, Qazi left bilateral diplomacy to become the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Iraq. He moved to the Sudan assignment in 2007, arriving in Khartoum in October to lead the United Nations Mission in Sudan. That mission supported implementation of the peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. ^{1, 3}

During the May 2008 crisis in Abyei, Qazi engaged the political leadership on both sides and visited Abyei, Muglad, and Agok. He pressed local leaders to restrain violence, support displaced people’s return, and implement ceasefire decisions. At his request, the Ceasefire Political Commission met on 27 May and agreed on an investigation and replacement joint forces for the area. The parties subsequently adopted the June road map, while UNMIS assisted its implementation. Qazi remained head of the mission until February 2010. ^{3, 4}