Friday, January 21 2005 16:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan's high-profile Foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar will retire next month after the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit in Dhaka and will be succeeded by the country's Ambassador to China Riaz Mohammad Khan.

Khokhar, who was due to retire on December 31, has been asked to stay till the summit, which was scheduled to take place earlier this month but was postponed to February 6-7 in the wake of the tsunami tragedy, officials in Islamabad said.

His successor Riaz Muhammad Khan's appointment order has already been cleared by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and he is in the process of winding up his assignment to China while attending various briefings from Pakistan Foreign Office on developments related to India-Pak ties and SAARC, they said.

Khokhar, considered a "hawk" for his strong stance against India during his tenure as High Commissioner to New Delhi in 90s, will be retiring in the thick of the India-Pak peace process as both countries are engaged in the second round of the composite dialogue process to resolve Kashmir and other contentious issues.

Towards the end of Khokhar's tenure, Pakistan decided to seek the World Bank arbitration in the Baglihar dispute with India, a move which could have a bearing on the peace process.

Besides serving as High Commissioner to India, Khokhar also served as his country's Ambassador to China before taking over as Foreign Secretary two years ago.

His successor Riaz Khan, also considered a India hardliner, was first tipped to become Pakistan's High Commissioner to New Delhi in 2003 before the job was given to the current High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan.