Niaz Naik

Foreign Secretary of Pakistan
Niaz A. Naik
In office
1982–1986
Personal details
Born(1926-05-31)31 May 1926
Died8 August 2009(2009-08-08) (aged 83)
Nationality Pakistan
ProfessionDiplomat and civil servant

Niaz A. Naik (31 May 1926 – 8 August 2009) was a Pakistani diplomat.

He served as Foreign Secretary of Pakistan from 1982 to 1986 and also served as a High Commissioner of Pakistan to India. He played a pivotal role in the back-channel talks during the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan.[1]

Career

Born on 31 May 1926,[2] Naik completed his education from Punjab University and received a master's degree. He joined the Pakistani Foreign Services in September 1949.[2][1] According to a major newspaper of Pakistan, "As a foreign secretary, he played a key role in the signing of pacts with India on trade, visas and defence".[1]

As a diplomat, Naik served in several Pakistani missions. His first posting was in Sydney where he served from 1951 to 1955, New York City from 1955 to 1959, Rangoon from 1960 to 1963,[2] Bonn, Germany from 1963 to 1965 and Geneva from 1965 to 1967. Naik served as the Director General to the United Nations from 1967 to 1970 and as Additional Secretary General from 1974 to 1978.[2]

From 1986 to 1990, Naik served as the permanent Representative of Pakistan to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).[2] Naik served as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Geneva from 1971 to 1974, New York City from 1978 to 1982 and France.[2] Naik was also part of the UN-sponsored international contact group on Afghanistan.[3]

Kargil War

Naik, who also served as High Commissioner to India, played a pivotal role in the back-channel talks during the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan.[2] He was also instrumental in the back-door negotiations on behalf of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with R. K. Misra, an aide of then Indian Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.[1][4]

Death

Naik was found murdered in his house in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on August 8, 2009. A postmortem at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital revealed that Naik may have been tortured before he was killed. Four ribs and the jaw bone were fractured and his lungs were damaged by a sharp heavy object. His body was discovered 3 or 4 days after his murder. Naik was unmarried and lived alone in Islamabad.[1][2][5][6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Back-channel talks icon Niaz Naik found dead". Dawn (newspaper). 9 August 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Niaz Naik found 'murdered' (also served as Ambassador of Pakistan)". The Nation (Pakistan) newspaper. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  3. ^ Arney, George (18 September 2001). "US 'planned attack on Taleban'". BBC News. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  4. ^ Chengappa, Raj (27 September 1999). "Controversy over secret negotiations during Kargil war begins to hurt Vajpayee and Sharif". India Today. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Former Pakistan foreign secretary Niaz Naik murdered". The Times of India. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  6. ^ Subramanian, Nirupama (9 August 2009). "Niaz A. Naik dead". The Hindu (newspaper). Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Former Pakistan Foreign Secretary Niaz Naik murdered". The Indian Express. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2021.