By IANS
New Delhi : Talmiz Ahmad, a senior diplomat and director-general of the Indian Council of World Affairs, is set to become India's next ambassador to the United Arab Emirates – home to over 1.4 million Indians.
The government is likely to make an official announcement about Ahmad's appointment in a fortnight, reliable sources told IANS.
Ahmad, who currently enjoys the rank of additional secretary in the external affairs ministry, is an old Gulf hand and had earlier served as India's ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Oman. He has also written a perceptive book on post-9/11 Middle East.
The appointment of a senior diplomat like Ahmad as India's envoy to UAE is part of the broader plan of New Delhi to upgrade its ties to a new level.
UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's visit to India in March put the spotlight on India's growing economic and strategic engagement with the Gulf country that has emerged as a major business hub in the region.
The two countries Tuesday began a two-day meeting of the joint commission to review and consolidate their multi-faceted relationship in political, economic and cultural areas.