Ambassador to Pakistan: Diplomacy in a Time of War
In the mid-1960s, Foreign Minister Gholam Abbas Aram first sent Ansari on a brief diplomatic mission to Africa, and shortly thereafter appointed him Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan. This posting coincided with the Indo-Pakistani War, placing Ansari in the midst of a volatile regional crisis.
Pakistan, a close ally of Iran under President Ayub Khan, viewed Tehran as a strategic partner. Ansari played an unusually active role. He traveled frequently to Tehran, often twice weekly, reporting directly to the Shah and conveying confidential messages between Islamabad and Tehran. His embassy effectively became a diplomatic relay station.
Ansari’s work during the war enhanced his standing as a crisis manager. He demonstrated the personal diplomacy favored by Mohammad Reza Shah—direct access, informal channels, and loyalty to royal strategy. These experiences further integrated him into the monarchy’s inner network.
