Mar 06, Colombo: The new High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, Major General (Retired) Qasim Qureshi arrived in Colombo on Wednesday March 6th, the High Commission said in a statement.

The ex-military officer had joined Pakistan Army in 1972, and had retired from active service in October 2009.

Maj. Gen. (Retd) Qureshi has held various important assignments such as Commander Infantry brigade in PoK between 1998-2000, Chief of Staff, Army Strategic Force Command in 2000-2001, Director Operations and Plans at Strategic Plans Division in 2003-04.

He has held various important assignments during his military career such as Commander Infantry brigade in Azad Kashmir between 1998-2000, Chief of Staff, Army Strategic Force Command in 2000-2001, Director Operations and Plans at Strategic Plans Division in 2003-04, Commander Infantry Division from 2004 to 2006, DG National Accountability Bureau Punjab in 2006-07, and DG Operations and Plans at Joint Staff Headquarters in 2008-09.

Since retirement he has been involved in various Track 2 initiatives including Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue, Ottawa Dialogue - exploring new nuclear CBMs between India and Pakistan and India-Pakistan Military to Military Dialogue - exploring conventional CMBs between India and Pakistan.

After his appointment as Pakistan's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Qureshi called on the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan.

During the meeting, President Asif Ali Zardari has asked the envoy to focus on further strengthening and promoting political, economic, trade and commercial ties of Pakistan with Sri Lanka.