Ambassador Sohail Mahmood is the Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). He has extensive experience of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and represented Pakistan at the United Nations, OIC, SCO, ECO and other key regional and international forums. In his 37-year diplomatic career, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood held key positions like Pakistan's 30th Foreign Secretary (April 2019-September 2022); High Commissioner to India (2017-2019); Ambassador to Turkiye with concurrent accreditation to North Macedonia and Kosovo (2015-2017); and Ambassador to Thailand/Permanent Representative to UNECSAP in Bangkok (2009-2013). He also held senior positions in Pakistan Missions in Washington and New York and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood has a Master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University (New York) and a Master's degree in History from Quaid-e-Azam University (Islamabad).