World Bulletin / News Desk

Pakistan on Friday named Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani as its new ambassador to the United States.

The move came after the post had remained vacant for the past few months.

Jilani will take up his new posting in December, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudry told Anadolu Agency.

He will replace Sherry Rehman, a former federal information minister and close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, who resigned after her Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) suffered a massive defeat in May general elections.

A career diplomat, Jilani, who joined Pakistan's Foreign Service in 1979, was appointed foreign secretary in March of last year.

He has previously served as Pakistan's ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union.

He has also interacted with NATO headquarters in Brussels on a regular basis.

Born on February 2, 1955, Jilani holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law and a Master's Degree in science, defense and strategic studies.

An expert in South Asian affairs, Jilani has served as director of Indian affairs (1992-1995), deputy high commissioner/acting high commissioner to New Delhi (1999-2003), and director-general for South Asia and SAARC (2003-2007).

In 2005, he briefly served as a government foreign affairs spokesman.

Other overseas assignments have included stints in Jeddah (1983-1985), London (1985-1988) and Washington DC (1995-1999). He also served as high commissioner to Canberra, Australia from 2007 to 2009.