Date: 17th October 2018
Her Excellency Dr Maleeha Lodhi is a Pakistani diplomat currently serving as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. She has previously served as envoy to London and Washington DC. This interview was recently conducted by Hassan Khan at Pakistan’s UN Mission in New York City, United States.
Q- In an increasingly unstable global order, as mentioned by the Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his UNGA speech, do you believe that the UN needs to redefine its role, since it seems to have failed in its goals of achieving tangible and lasting peace?
A- There is a lot of debate on this issue in the UN. Pakistan along with many other countries has consistently called for a UN that is ‘fit for purpose’ and relevant in today’s fast-moving world and changing international dynamics.
The visit of the foreign minister to the high-level segment of UNGA 73, provided an opportunity that was fully and actively utilised to reconnect Pakistan to the world, project Pakistan’s views on key global and regional issues and articulate the vision of a ‘Naya Pakistan’ on a world stage
However, we must acknowledge that while the UN’s record shows several failures, it also shows it has done well in many spheres. Of course, the greatest disappointment is the uneven and selective implementation of its own decisions and resolutions – the most outstanding being the non-implementation of resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.
At the same time, we should remember that the UN was founded after two world wars within a generation and its principal aim is to prevent another major conflagration. It has managed to avert this in the last seven decades.
Also, its peacekeeping missions are very successful, because they have managed in the last 70 years to maintain international peace and security in many parts of the world, especially Africa.
As for an unstable global order, we should remember that the UN is not a supranational body but an intergovernmental organisation. It will be as united as its member states are.
It cannot inject stability to the global order, when some of its constituent members pursue narrow, divergent interests and geo-strategic strategies that undermine both the organization and international peace and stability.
Q- The foreign minister held several bilateral and multilateral meetings during his visit to New York City for UNGA 73. What significant impact on Pakistan’s foreign policy goals are we looking forward to in the future owing to these meetings, especially those held with the Russians, the Chinese and the Americans?
A-The visit of the foreign minister to the high-level segment of UNGA 73, provided an opportunity that was fully and actively utilised to reconnect Pakistan to the world, project Pakistan’s views on key global and regional issues and articulate the vision of a ‘Naya Pakistan’ on a world stage. In his bilateral meetings too, the foreign minister was able to convey the priorities of the new government to his counterparts from various countries.
He held over 20 bilateral meetings and had a total of over 50 engagements during his stay in New York, making this a very productive visit. As for impact, you will agree that foreign policy endeavours are a process, not an event. Impact becomes evident over time.
Q- New Delhi’s role has become increasingly hawkish in recent years with no sign of any fruitful progress on ensuring peace. How exactly could it be ensured in such a hostile environment, as several talks have broken down over flimsy excuses?
A- This is a question that is best put to the Indian side. It is India that again cancelled talks with Pakistan. It is India that has a no-talk attitude. It is India that refuses to resume the broad-based dialogue process. As you know, Pakistan has always been ready to resume the peace process and address all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir, through dialogue.
Q- There have been efforts since 2005, to enlarge the UNSC with the inclusion of states such as India and Germany. How do you think Pakistan will be impacted and do you foresee if such an expansion will be approved, and what alternative proposal could the government suggest to prevent the expansion?
A- Pakistan has been actively engaged in the intergovernmental negotiations that have been underway for the past many years, which are aimed at reforming the Security Council. Pakistan wants to see a reformed and expanded council that is democratic, more representative and effective. We oppose expansion of seats in the permanent category on the grounds that this would add more centres of privilege, and be contrary to the democratic spirit of our times. It would also contradict the principle enshrined in the UN Charter of the sovereign equality of states.
Pakistan advocates reform of the Security Council by adding non-permanent, elected seats so that the new Council is more accountable and representative.
We do not think that states can claim permanent seats on the Council for themselves on self-serving criteria. Only periodic elections should be the method by which states should get membership of the Security Council.
Q- Pakistan is the third largest contributor to the UN’s peacekeeping missions. In your opinion, what role could it potentially play in resolving matters related to Kashmir, which has become one of the core flash points of instability in recent decades. Not mentioning the fact that regional missions such as UNMOGIP have largely remained helpless owing to the Indian restrictions placed.
A- You are raising two very different issues in this question. Pakistan has been among the world leaders in UN peacekeeping and is proud of this role. Since 1960, Pakistan has contributed over 200,000 troops to 46 missions, in 28 countries. Our peacekeeping role has earned the country great international appreciation and respect.
As for the second part of your question on Kashmir, the dispute remains among the oldest issue on the UN’s agenda. There are several UN Security Council Resolutions on this, but these have yet to be implemented. We continue to remind the UN of its responsibility on this count. The UN Secretary-General, in acknowledgement of this responsibility, has repeatedly offered his good offices to help address this issue. But again, Indian intransigence has blocked any movement.
As for UNMOGIP, Pakistan considers this as critical to the maintenance of regional peace and security. The fact that India refuses to cooperate with this UN mission once again exposes who wants to work for peace in South Asia and who doesn’t.
Q- You have been a role model to many journalists and those who aspire to pursue a career in diplomacy. Having worked with several governments in different ambassadorial assignments, what advice would you give to those who wish to follow your footsteps?
A- It is humbling to be asked this question. We all have to find and pursue our own career path based on our unique experiences. But the qualities we need to be a good professional whether in diplomacy or journalism are essentially the same: single-mindedness, commitment to our profession, hard work, good analytical and communication skills, willingness to be a good team player and above all, integrity. It’s important in both professions to read widely and keep oneself up to speed with the fast-moving developments around us.
But I also found that luck and chance played a key role in my life in offering opportunities. Having the capability to seize those opportunities, however, makes the crucial difference between success and shall we say, lack of success.
The interviewer is a diplomatic correspondent, at Daily Times. He can be reached at [email protected] and tweets @mhassankhan06
Published in Daily Times, October 20th 2018.