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JP Singh (IFS) Biography

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Height: 5' 10"

Education: Master's Degree In Sociology

Bio/Wiki
Full Name	Jitender Pal Singh
Profession	Civil Servant
Physical Stats
Height (approx.)	5' 10" (178 cm)
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Salt & Pepper
Civil Service
Service	Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Batch	2002
Major Designation(s)	• Third Secretary and Second Secretary at the Embassy of India in Moscow, Russia (2004-2006) • First Secretary at the Embassy of India in Kabul, Afghanistan (2008-2012) • Deputy High Commissioner of India to Pakistan (2014-2019) • Consul General of India in Istanbul, Turkey (2019-2020) • Joint Secretary (PAI) in the Ministry of External Affairs (2020) • Chief of Staff to the External Affairs Minister (2024-2025) • Ambassador of India to the State of Israel (2025)
Personal Life
Nationality	Indian
Educational Qualification	A master's degree in Sociology
Controversy	Summonned Over Ceasefire Violations: In 2018, JP Singh, India's Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, was summoned multiple times by Pakistan over alleged ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC). He was first summonned on 15 January, followed by 18, 19, 20, and 21. On 5 February 2018, Singh was again summoned after an incident on 4 February 2018 in the Nezapir, Nikial, and Karela sectors, where firing by Indian troops allegedly killed two civilians, 18-year-old Rafaqat Ali and 25-year-old Tasleem Begum, and injured seven others, including two children. Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan's Director General (South Asia and SAARC), criticised the incident and stated that Indian forces had committed over 190 ceasefire violations in 2018, which resulted in 13 civilian deaths. Faisal urged India to follow the 2003 ceasefire agreement and allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to monitor the situation. However, India stated that UNMOGIP was no longer relevant after the Shimla Agreement and the establishment of the LoC. ^[1]Financial Express

Some Lesser Known Facts About JP Singh

JP Singh is known for handling many difficult diplomatic situations.

He was appointed as the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Pakistan in 2014.
JP Singh while addressing a press conference as the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Pakistan

In 2017, he handled the high-profile Uzma Ahmed Case. Uzma, a young woman from Delhi, travelled to Pakistan to meet Taher Ali aka Tahir Ali, a man she had met online.

After reaching Pakistan, Uzma discovered that Tahir was already married and had four children. She later claimed that Tahir forced her into marriage at gunpoint and did not let her leave. She also alleged that he harassed and drugged her.
Uzma Ahmed and Tahir Ali

Uzma later escaped and took help from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh gave her refuge inside the embassy and ensured her safety.

In 2017, Tahir took the matter to the Islamabad High Court and claimed Uzma was his wife. Uzma, however, filed a counter-petition, saying that the marriage was forced and expressed her wish to return to India.

JP Singh managed the legal process, arranged lawyers for Uzma, and stayed in touch with Pakistani officials to prevent tensions between the two countries. He helped Uzma throughout the case and coordinated with India’s then Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj.

On 25 May 2017, the Islamabad High Court ruled in Uzma’s favour and allowed her to return to India. Singh arranged her safe return through the Wagah border on the same day.
Uzma Ahmed (second from the right), along with her family and the 29th Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj (second from the left), at the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in New Delhi after arriving from Pakistan on 25 May 2017

In late 2017, Singh was appointed as Joint Secretary for the PAI division in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He played a key role in starting backchannel talks with the Taliban.
JP Singh while giving a speech as the Joint Secretary (PAI) for the Ministry of External Affairs

As the Joint Secretary (PAI), he managed India’s diplomatic engagement with the Taliban following the fall of Ashraf Ghani‘s government in Afghanistan. His role included ensuring the safety of Indian interests in the region.

In November 2024, Singh met the Taliban’s acting defence minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, which marked the first public interaction between Yaqoob and an Indian official.
JP Singh and Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob during their meeting in 2024

JP Singh was appointed as the Ambassador of India to the State of Israel in 2025. He received his letter of credence from the President of India Droupadi Murmu on 12 February.
12 February 2025: JP Singh while receiving his letter of credence from the President of India Droupadi Murmu

In 2025, a film titled ‘The Diplomat’ was made based on the Uzma Ahmed case. John Abraham played the role of JP Singh in the film, which highlighted Singh’s career as a diplomat and the high-stakes nature of his work.
Left: A poster of the film ‘The Diplomat’ (2025); Right: JP Singh with John Abraham

Singh is proficient in English, Hindi and Russian languages.

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