Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad

Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Talmiz sbTalmiz Ahmad joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974. During the last 36 years, he has acquired a special interest in the countries of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, having been posted early in his career in Kuwait, Baghdad and Sana’a, and later as Consul General in Jeddah (1987-90). He has also served in the Indian Missions in New York, London and Pretoria. After having been the head of the Gulf and Haj Division in the Ministry of External Affairs in 1998-2000, he was appointed Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia in January 2000, after which he became the Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman in July 2003. He joined the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as Additional Secretary for International Cooperation in 2004-06. He then served as Director General of the Indian Council of World Affairs, India’s premier foreign affairs think-tank, between April 2006-July 2007. He assumed charge as the Ambassador of India to the UAE in August 2007. In January 2010, he commenced his second stint as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Talmiz Ahmad writes and lectures regularly on Political Islam, the politics of West Asia and energy security. His papers on energy have appeared in several books and journals. His book titled: Reform in the Arab World: External Influences and Regional Debates, was published in July 2005. His new book titled :Children of Abraham at War : The Clash of Messianic Militarisms, was released in September 2010. In July 2011, the Saudi Government conferred on him the King Abdul Aziz Medal First Class for his contribution to the promotion of Indo – Saudi relations. After retirement from Foreign Service, he works as an Energy consultant in Dubai.
Expertise

Energy security, Indo-Saudi Arabia, Political Islam, West Asia politics

Last modified: August 4, 2017

Recent projects

Arab Republics Courtesy: Synthesio.com
14 August 2014 Gateway House

Federalism for the Arab Republics?

Many Arab Republics are mired in political discord after the departure of the old tyrannical regimes opened up spaces for new struggles. In Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, attempts to address the turmoil through constitutional reform are facing challenges. Will a democratic federalism be attained when the battles are done?

IMG_4820 Courtesy: Gateway House
20 April 2012 Gateway House

Deciphering today’s Middle East

What are the implications for India if Iran is attacked? How effective has the response been by gulf nations to their own protests? Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad, India’s former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, discusses the dynamics of West Asia with Gateway House’s Alisha Pinto and Azadeh Pourzand.