177. Talmiz Ahmad

Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mr. Talmiz Ahmad joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974.  During the last 35 years, he has acquired a special interest in the countries of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, having been posted early in his career in Kuwait, Baghdad and Sana’a, and later as Consul General in Jeddah (1987-90).  He has also served in the Indian diplomatic Missions in New York, London and Pretoria.

            After having been the head for the Gulf and Haj Divisions in the Ministry of External Affairs in 1998-2000, Mr. Ahmad was appointed Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia in January 2000, after which he became the Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman in July 2003. Mr. Ahmad headed the Indian team that negotiated the release of seven Indian and other hostages in Iraq in August 2004.

              He joined the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as Additional Secretary for International Cooperation in April 2005.  He then served as Director General of the Indian Council of World Affairs, Indian premier foreign affairs think-tank, in between April 2006 to July 2007. He assumed charge as the Ambassador of India to the UAE in August 2007. On his departure from the UAE in late-January 2010, he will complete two-and-a-half-years as the Indian Ambassador in the UAE.

            Mr. Talmiz Ahmad writes and lectures regularly on Political Islam, the politics of West Asia and energy security.  His papers on energy have appeared in several books and journals. His book titled: Reform in the Arab World: External Influences and Regional Debates, was published in July 2005.

Source : indianembassy.org.sa