As Pakistan's Foreign Secretary, he managed and executed his country's foreign policy during an extraordinary period of its history that saw the resumption of India-Pakistan peace process, overt nuclearization of first India and then Pakistan, the Kargil War and the October 12, 1999 military coup in Pakistan. Foreign Secretary, Shamshad Ahmad was the one who had announced the last nuclear test in a defiant, nationally televised speech on 30 May 1998 stating that the world powers had ignored the long-simmering conflict between India and Pakistan until these nuclear explosions by both countries only because it raised the possibility of a nuclear war back into the global agenda and focus. He also stated that no radiation escaped into the atmosphere but refused to share technical data about the explosion. Speaking after the nuclear tests, Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad told reporters that it was not Pakistan's purpose to enter into an arms race with India and that Pakistan was forced to develop its nuclear capability only in self-defense and only to restore the strategic balance with India after their nuclear tests earlier. Earlier, he signed the June 23, 1997 agreement in Islamabad with his Indian counterpart Salman Haider on resumption of India-Pakistan peace process which is today the basis of the ongoing "composite dialogue" between the two countries. In the aftermath of India-Pakistan nuclear tests in May 1998, he played a key role in promoting mutual "restraint and responsibility" between India and Pakistan, and on the occasion of the Lahore Summit, signed a memorandum of understanding with his Indian counterpart on February 21, 1999, laying down a framework of mutual "nuclear risk reduction" and other confidence-building measures aimed at preventing the risk of nuclear conflict and unauthorized or accidental use of nuclear weapons. Shamshad Ahmad also held eight rounds of talks with his US counterpart Strobe Talbott from May 1998 to February 1999 on issues of peace and security in South Asia, including nuclear and strategic stability stabilization measures.
Pakistan ambassador to UN
During his tenure as Ambassador to the United Nations, he co-chaired together with Ambassador of New Zealand UN General Assembly's Working Group on Conflict Resolution and Sustainable Development in Africa, and also served as Senior Consultant to the UN on economic and social matters with particular focus on sustainable development and poverty alleviation. Ambassador Shamshad Ahmad also co-chaired, together with Ambassador Ruth Jacoby of Sweden, the International Conference on Financing for Development held in Monterrey on 18-22 March 2002.
Books
Dreams Unfulfilled by Shamshad Ahmad, published by Jahangir Books
Pakistan and World Affairs by Shamshad Ahmad, published in 2014 by Jahangir Books
'Pakistan's Foreign Policy Dilemma: A perennial Quest for Survival'by Shamshad Ahmad, published in January 2020
