New Delhi: The 2005 batch senior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Geetika Srivastava has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Lithuania, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday.
Currently serving as the Charge d’Affaires (CDA) at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, Ms Srivastava is expected to take up her new diplomatic assignment shortly.
Her appointment marks another significant milestone in a distinguished diplomatic career that has included handling India’s strategic engagements in the Indo-Pacific, maritime diplomacy, China, and one of India’s most sensitive foreign postings—Pakistan.
MEA Announces Appointment
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Ms. Geetika Srivastava (IFS:2005), presently Charge d’Affaires in the High Commission of India, Islamabad, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Lithuania.”
The Ministry added that she is expected to assume the assignment shortly.
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First Woman to Head India’s Mission in Pakistan
IFS Srivastava made history in 2023 when she became the first woman since Independence to head India’s diplomatic mission in Pakistan.
She was appointed as Charge d’Affaires (CDA) at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad after succeeding Dr. M. Suresh Kumar.
Since India and Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations following the 2019 developments, both countries have been represented by Charge d’Affaires instead of High Commissioners. In this challenging environment, Srivastava has led India’s diplomatic mission in Islamabad, making her appointment a landmark achievement in Indian diplomacy.
A Distinguished Diplomatic Career
Over nearly two decades in the Indian Foreign Service, Ms Srivastava has handled several critical diplomatic assignments involving regional security, maritime affairs, and multilateral diplomacy.
Before being posted to Pakistan, she served as Joint Secretary in the Indo-Pacific Division at the Ministry of External Affairs, where she played a key role in shaping India’s engagement with strategic regional platforms.
Her responsibilities included India’s cooperation with:
- ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
- Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
- Indo-Pacific strategic partnerships
- Multilateral regional diplomacy
Experience in Maritime Diplomacy
Prior to heading the Indo-Pacific Division, IFS Srivastava served as Director of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Divisionat the MEA.
In that role, she was responsible for India’s maritime diplomacy and bilateral engagement with several countries in the Indian Ocean region, an increasingly important area in India’s foreign policy and security architecture.
Earlier Posting in China
One of Ms Srivastava’s earliest overseas assignments was at the Embassy of India in Beijing, where she served between 2007 and 2009 as First Secretary.
During her tenure in China, she handled:
- Media relations
- Cultural diplomacy
- Visa affairs
Her experience in Beijing strengthened her expertise in East Asian diplomacy.
Regional Passport Officer in Kolkata
Apart from international assignments, Ms Srivastava has also served in India as the Regional Passport Officer (RPO), Kolkata, where she oversaw passport services and citizen-centric consular administration.
Expertise in Indo-Pacific Affairs
Throughout her diplomatic career, Geetika Srivastava has built expertise in several strategic domains, including:
- Indo-Pacific policy
- Maritime security
- Multilateral diplomacy
- South Asian regional affairs
- India-Pakistan relations
- East Asian diplomacy
She is also proficient in Mandarin, a skill developed during her diplomatic training and further strengthened during her posting in China.
Who Is Geetika Srivastava?
IFS Srivastava is a 2005-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from Uttar Pradesh.
Recognized as one of India’s experienced career diplomats, she has served in a variety of important assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs and overseas missions. Her appointment as India’s Ambassador to Lithuania comes after successfully leading one of the country’s most sensitive diplomatic missions in Islamabad.
With her extensive experience in strategic diplomacy, regional security, and multilateral engagement, she is expected to further strengthen India’s bilateral relations with Lithuania and deepen cooperation between the two countries across political, economic, and cultural sectors.
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