RIYADH: Ahmed Javed, currently police commissioner of India’s commercial capital of Mumbai, has been appointed new ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
“A 1980-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Javed is expected to take up his assignment shortly,” said India’s External Affairs Ministry in a statement.
“The huge Indian diaspora, whose number currently exceeds about 2.9 million in Saudi Arabia, are eagerly waiting for the arrival of the new ambassador,” said Hemant Kotalwar, charge d’affaires at the Indian Embassy.
The official announcement of Javed’s appointment comes a ahead of a possible visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia in January. The post has been lying vacant since April.
The mission in Saudi Arabia is critical for India with the presence of a huge Indian workforce, security situation emanating from regional conflicts, energy security, business as well as growing cooperation in the fields of defense and counterterrorism.
Set to retire from police service in January, Javed is credited with serving Mumbai, which has gained the dubious distinction of being the second most crime-prone city in India with over 18 million population.
The new envoy, who hails from the north Indian city of Lucknow, has had the distinction to win many awards including “Police Medal for Meritorious Services.”
According to reports, Javed has been appointed by Indian government because he would have better understanding of issues relating to terror and security, the two areas in which the two countries are closely working.
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