Jitender Pal Singh, a seasoned diplomat with a career marked by navigating complex geopolitical landscapes, currently serves as India's Ambassador to Israel in Tel Aviv. His journey to this crucial posting is a testament to his resilience, strategic acumen, and dedication to serving his country, earning him the moniker 'The Diplomat'.
Singh's career is replete with challenging assignments. A significant chapter involved his role in Afghanistan, particularly after the Taliban's resurgence. As India's point person for Afghanistan, he played a vital role in shaping and executing India's policy towards the Taliban. In November 2024, he met with Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the Taliban's acting defence minister, to explore avenues for expanding relations between the two sides. These discussions paved the way for further talks between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and the Taliban regime's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Dubai. His efforts in Afghanistan involved negotiating with Taliban officials for humanitarian assistance and the resumption of development projects from India.
Earlier in his career, while serving as the First Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Singh faced considerable personal risk. During his tenure, the Indian embassy endured two major terrorist attacks. Despite the dangers, he remained steadfast, ensuring India's continued diplomatic presence in the country.
Another defining moment in Singh's career occurred during his time as the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Pakistan. In 2017, he was instrumental in the rescue of Uzma Ahmed, an Indian woman who was allegedly forced into marriage in Pakistan. Uzma, who had travelled to Pakistan, claimed she was abducted and coerced into marrying a Pakistani national. Singh's intervention involved navigating complex diplomatic channels and Pakistani legal procedures, while also facing pressure from both governments. He secured her safe return to India, a feat that has been widely lauded. The gravity of the situation was such that Singh later described it as the most difficult situation he had ever faced.
The Uzma Ahmed case and Singh's role in resolving it served as the inspiration for the film "The Diplomat," starring John Abraham, illustrating the high-stakes, complex nature of his work.
In January 2025, Singh's appointment as India's Ambassador to Israel came at a particularly sensitive time, coinciding with a ceasefire in Gaza. His responsibilities include overseeing the revival of bilateral trade and defense ties, as well as managing the growing Indian labor force in Israel.
More recently, in May 2025, Singh spoke out against Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism into India, urging Islamabad to hand over the leaders of terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). In an interview with Israel's i24NEWS, he highlighted the involvement of these groups in numerous terror attacks on India. Singh has emphasized that India will continue its fight against terrorism.
His appointment to Tel Aviv is seen as strategically important, given India's close ties with both Israel and various Islamic nations. He is known for securing India's interests amidst the rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics in regions like Afghanistan.
