Niaz A. Naik (May 31 1926 – 8 August 2009) was a Pakistani diplomat and the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan from 1982 to 1986.[1][2][3]
Career
Naik completed his Masters degree from Punjab University and joined the Pakistani Foreign Services in September 1949.[1] As a diplomat Naik served in several Pakistan missions, in Sydney from 1951 to 1955, New York City from 1955 to 1959, Rangoon from 1960 to 1963,[1] 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.[1] From 1986 to 1990, Naik served as the permanent Representative of Pakistan to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).[1] Naik served as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Geneva from 1971 to 1974, New York City from 1978 to 1982 and France.[1] Naik was also part of the UN-sponsored international contact group on Afghanistan.[2]
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 and was instrumental in the back-door negotiations on behalf of Pakistani Prime minister Nawaz Sharif with R. K. Mishra, an aide of then Indian Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.[4][5]
Death
Naik was found murdered in his house in the Pakistani capital on August 8, 2009. A postmortem reveled 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.[6][7][8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Niaz A Naik also served as Ambassador of Pakistan". nation.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ a b "A former Pakistani diplomat has told the BBC that the US was planning military action against Osama Bin Laden". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Threat of US strikes passed to Taliban weeks before NY attack". theguardian.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Back-channel talks icon Niaz Naik found dead". dawn.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Was there a deal?". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "Former Pakistan foreign secretary Niaz Naik murdered". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Niaz A. Naik dead". thehindu.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Former Pakistan Foreign Secretary Niaz Naik murdered". indianexpress.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.