New Delhi: Senior Indian Foreign Service officer Ajay A Kumar (IFS: 2001) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Iraq.
Kumar is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and is expected to take up his new assignment shortly.
The Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment on August 18, 2026, as India prepares to further strengthen its longstanding diplomatic, economic and people-to-people ties with Iraq.
The appointment is particularly notable as Kumar has previously served as India’s Ambassador to Iraq, making his latest posting a return to a country with which he has considerable diplomatic experience.
Who Is Ajay A Kumar?
A. Ajay Kumar is a senior career diplomat belonging to the 2001 batch of the Indian Foreign Service. Over more than two decades in the diplomatic service, he has handled several important bilateral, multilateral, security and development-related assignments.
His career has included postings in Iran, Bahrain, Iraq, Australia and Uganda, apart from several key assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters in New Delhi.
His experience includes work on the Pakistan desk, Indian Ocean Region, development partnerships and West Asian affairs, giving him exposure to some of India’s strategically important foreign-policy priorities.
Kumar also previously served as High Commissioner of India to Uganda and was concurrently accredited as India’s non-resident Ambassador to Burundi.
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Educational Background
Kumar completed his higher education in Kerala before joining the Indian Foreign Service.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and an LL.B. degree from the University of Calicut, Kerala.
His academic background in political science and law provided a foundation for his subsequent career in diplomacy, where he has worked across bilateral relations, regional security, international cooperation and development partnerships.
Ajay A Kumar’s Diplomatic Career
Kumar’s diplomatic career spans assignments across the Middle East, South Asia, the Indo-Pacific and Africa, as well as senior responsibilities at the MEA headquarters.
Tehran, Iran: 2003–2006
Kumar began his overseas diplomatic career in Tehran, Iran, where he served as Third Secretary from 2003 to 2005.
He subsequently served as Second Secretary (Information) and Head of Chancery from 2005 to 2006.
His early posting in Iran gave him exposure to India’s engagement with a strategically important West Asian country.
Pakistan Desk, MEA: 2006–2008
After returning to New Delhi, Kumar served as an Under Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, handling the crucial Pakistan Desk.
The assignment involved dealing with one of India’s most sensitive bilateral relationships and provided him with experience in regional security and South Asian diplomacy.
Bahrain: 2008–2012
Kumar was subsequently posted to Manama, Bahrain, where he served at the Indian Embassy between 2008 and 2012.
During this period, he was involved in matters relating to the Indian diaspora, bilateral relations and economic partnerships.
His posting in Bahrain further strengthened his experience in the Gulf region, an area of considerable importance for India’s strategic and economic interests.
Tehran, Iran: 2012–2014
Kumar returned to Tehran for a second diplomatic assignment and served as a Counsellor from 2012 to 2014.
The second stint in Iran came during a period of significant geopolitical developments in West Asia and further added to his regional experience.
First Ambassadorial Posting to Iraq: 2014–2015
Kumar was appointed Ambassador of India to Iraq in 2014, marking his first ambassadorial assignment.
He served in Baghdad during a particularly challenging period for Iraq and the wider West Asian region.
His experience in Iraq is now particularly relevant as he prepares to return to the country as India’s ambassador more than a decade after his first posting there.
The latest appointment therefore gives Kumar an opportunity to build upon his earlier experience and his subsequent exposure to regional and global diplomatic issues.
Deputy High Commissioner to Australia
From 2016 to 2017, Kumar served as Deputy High Commissioner of India to Australia in Canberra.
The assignment broadened his diplomatic experience beyond West Asia and into the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia has emerged as an increasingly important partner for India across areas including strategic cooperation, trade, education and maritime security.
Key Roles at MEA Headquarters
Kumar returned to New Delhi in 2017 and took up important responsibilities at the Ministry of External Affairs.
He served as Director and later Joint Secretary dealing with the Indian Ocean Region (IOR-II).
He subsequently served as Joint Secretary in the Development Partnership Administration (DPA-I).
These assignments exposed him to India’s wider strategic engagement across the Indian Ocean region and the country’s development partnership initiatives with partner countries.
His experience in the IOR and DPA portfolios also added a development and maritime dimension to his diplomatic profile.
High Commissioner to Uganda and Ambassador to Burundi
From 2020 to 2023, Kumar served as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Uganda.
During his tenure in Kampala, he was also concurrently accredited as India’s non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi.
The African assignment gave him substantial experience in India’s engagement with East Africa and India’s broader development and capacity-building partnerships with African countries.
Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs
Kumar returned to New Delhi in 2023 and took up his present role as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
In this position, he has been involved in important diplomatic and foreign-policy responsibilities at the ministry headquarters.
After serving at the MEA for the past few years, Kumar will now return to an ambassadorial assignment, this time once again in Baghdad.
India-Iraq Relations
Kumar’s appointment comes as India and Iraq continue to maintain longstanding historical and civilisational ties.
The two countries have maintained sustained high-level political exchanges, while people-to-people and institutional contacts have remained an important component of bilateral relations.
Healthcare and education are among the key areas of India’s engagement with Iraq.
India has emerged as one of the preferred destinations for Iraqi citizens seeking medical treatment, while thousands of Iraqi students have pursued higher education in India.
More than 10,000 Iraqi students have obtained PhD, Master’s and undergraduate degrees in India, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
India Expands Capacity Building for Iraq
Capacity-building is another important component of the India-Iraq relationship.
In June 2025, 34 young diplomats from Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs completed the 5th Special Course for Diplomats conducted by the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service in New Delhi.
India has also allocated 200 ITEC slots to Iraq for training officials of the Iraqi government.
More than 100 Iraqi professionals availed themselves of ITEC training during 2025–26.
India’s capacity-building partnership with Iraq has also extended to areas such as yoga. In January 2026, 12 Iraqi yoga students participated in a yoga teacher training course under the ITEC programme in Bengaluru.
Ajay A Kumar’s Areas of Diplomatic Experience
Kumar’s career has given him experience across several strategic areas of India’s foreign policy.
His multiple assignments in Iran, Iraq and Bahrain have provided extensive exposure to West Asian geopolitics. His responsibilities at the Indian Ocean Region desk have also given him experience in maritime diplomacy and India’s engagement across the wider Indian Ocean region.
His stint with the Development Partnership Administration provided additional exposure to India’s development cooperation and lines of credit.
His tenure in Uganda and concurrent accreditation to Burundi further strengthened his experience of African affairs and India’s engagement with East Africa.
Returning to Iraq With Extensive Regional Experience
Kumar’s appointment as India’s next Ambassador to Iraq brings together several strands of his diplomatic career.
He has previously served in Baghdad, worked extensively across West Asia, handled sensitive portfolios at the MEA headquarters and served as India’s envoy in Africa.
His return to Iraq comes at a time when India continues to focus on strengthening its bilateral partnerships across West Asia, including cooperation in healthcare, education, capacity building, trade and people-to-people relations.
As the 2001-batch IFS officer takes charge in Baghdad, his previous experience in Iraq and broader regional exposure are expected to be valuable in advancing India’s diplomatic engagement with the country.
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