The resignation of Professor Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, is a tragedy for both nations and for the future of US-Pakistani relations. The controversy and indeed firestorm around the so-called ‘Memogate’ affair is far from over. In the wake of the resignation, recriminations and even legal action will surely follow. None of this will be helpful for a fragile relationship only likely to become more fragile and vulnerable. While Pakistan will find a suitable and competent replacement for Mr Haqqani and will do so quickly, it will take time for that individual to navigate his or her away around the intricacies of Washington politics, particularly in an election year with the American public so divided over crucial issues covering virtually every aspect of domestic and foreign policy from the war in Afghanistan to crippling unemployment and an economy that seems immune to corrective action. And, of course, the financial crisis in the Eurozone threatens to cross the Atlantic — a daunting and frightening prospect that could take down the international banking system. About Professor Haqqani, and he remains a respected colleague and close friend, his reputation in Washington was as good as it gets. He was trusted, admired and most importantly was listened to as Pakistan’s representative. He had access at the highest levels of the White House, both Houses of Congress, the Pentagon, CIA and the State Department. And he was a whirling dervish of activity travelling across the US in advancing his country’s interests. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, he had his detractors in Pakistan. Some may have been jealous of his skills, intellect and abilities to communicate in word and in speech. Others resented some of his criticisms about the army in his classic book, Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military. And still others saw his resilience in being able to work with disparate leaders in serving his country from Presidents Zia to Zardari as a flaw. Much of Ambassador Haqqani’s contributions to Pakistan in the US will go unnoticed. His interactions, access and relations with the most senior American official and the high level of trust, confidence and mutual respect helped cushion the often turbulent relationships. His wisdom and common sense for example were essential in helping to limit the damage done by Raymond Davis in an episode that saw three Pakistanis killed, two shot dead by Davis. As relations between the US and Pakistan plummeted to record lows following the May 2nd raid in Abbottabad that finally brought Osama bin Laden to justice certainly in the eyes of Americans, Haqqani was a one-man army seeking to limit the vast damage that was done. That damage was soon to envelop Haqqani in the sad Memogate affair and force his resignation. Inquiries and legal actions aside, while the presence of the memo itself and the publication of a string of text messages certainly contributed to a rush to justice, the inconsistencies of this tragic episode remain worrying and unresolved. Haqqani was too experienced and sophisticated as well as knowledgeable to have thought that a ‘civilian coup’ to shackle the military in the aftermath of the bin Laden raid was anything but a harebrained scheme. More to his defence, Haqqani did not need an intermediary to pass a memo and no doubt could have delivered the message to the Oval or any other office that was necessary in Washington. And finally, if he did select an intermediary, he would have picked one who was discreet and would keep his silence. Still, the ‘he said-she said’ controversy will make little difference as the issue now is to strengthen not weaken US-Pakistani relations. If there was little doubt of the dangerous levels of distrust and absence of confidence that exist, the Republican presidential debate Tuesday night was enough to frighten even the most optimistic of Americans. The absence of knowledge and understanding shown by too many of the participants in that debate on foreign policy and not just about Pakistan was shocking and worrisome. What can be done? First, Pakistan must send their very best as the new ambassador to Washington. That representative must be empowered by the government to continue where Ambassador Haqqani left off in restoring the relationship. Second, that representative must be supported with what Ambassador Haqqani was not — a well coordinated public relations programme that better informs not only the Americans but the world at large of hugely difficult conditions Pakistan faces from millions of unemployed and unemployable youth with few prospects to the damage still sustained from last year’s flood. Finally, it is high time for a heads of state summit to work out the major issues, disconnects and differences between the two countries. Ambassador Haqqani’s resignation should not be in vain. And if relations can get back on track, it need not be. [Note: this column was written before Ms Sherry Rehman’s name was announced as the ambassador-designate.] The writer is Chairman of the Killowen Group that advises leaders of government and business and is Senior Advisor at Washington, DC’s Atlantic Council