Background
Ambassador Jilani was born on 2 February 1955 in Multan, Pakistan. His father, Makhdoom Mazhar Hussain Jilani, was a Public Service Commission officer and his older brother, Asghar Hussain Jilani, was the Chief Secretary of Punjab.
Ambassador Jilani was born on 2 February 1955 in Multan, Pakistan. His father, Makhdoom Mazhar Hussain Jilani, was a Public Service Commission officer and his older brother, Asghar Hussain Jilani, was the Chief Secretary of Punjab.
A specialist in South Asian affairs, he is the 22nd person to hold this office. Previously he was the Foreign Secretary from March 2012 to December 2013. He comes from a family of bureaucrats.
Jalil Jilani has 3 children, Ahmed, Amir Hamza and Talha.
Ahmed works for the United Nations in Rome, Amir had been employed by the Centre for International Economics in Australia, but is now attending graduate school at Georgetown. And Talha is a senior at Sidwell Friends School in District of Columbia. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (Oxford) and an Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies.
After joining the Foreign Service of Pakistan in March 1979, he served at the Foreign Office as a Section Officer (1981-1982) and a Director (1992-1995). As Deputy Secretary at Prime Minister’s Secretariat (1989-1992).
And, again at Foreign Office, as the Director General South Asia & South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (2003-2007).
He also served as the Government’s Spokesman on Foreign Affairs (2005). His other assignments include Deputy High Commissioner, Acting High Commissioner, First Consul, Acting Ambassador to
Jeddah (1983-1985)
London (1985-1988)
Washington (1995-1999)
New Delhi (1999-2003)
Australia (2007-2009)
He has also served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union. He used to interact with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters based in Brussels on regular basis.
He was appointed as Ambassador to the United States in December 2013.
