Does High Commissioner to UK project ‘Naya Pakistan’?on September 16, 2018Earlier this week, various mainstream news channels have carried reports of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sahibzada Ahmed Khan, making a mockery of him self and the exalted office he represents; at an awards ceremony hosted by HUM TV last Sunday evening. In the midst of prominent film stars, Ahmed Khan was allegedly intoxicated at the event. He initially amused the stars … [Read more...] about Does High Commissioner to UK project ‘Naya Pakistan’?
Mr PM: the world awaits you in New York City!on August 28, 2018The newly elected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government led by Prime Minister (PM), Imran Khan, has chosen Foreign Minister (FM), Shah Mehmood Qureshi, to represent the state at the 73rd UN General Assembly session to be held in New York City, next month. With over a hundred world leaders expected to be in attendance at the event, the PM should visit personally, and address the international … [Read more...] about Mr PM: the world awaits you in New York City!
Why did the National Security Advisor resign?on July 15, 2018At a time when relations with India and Afghanistan are potentially heading towards reduced hostilities given the recent overtures for promoting peace, National Security Advisor (NSA) Lt General (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua unexpectedly resigned a couple of weeks ago. Janjua had played a key role in resuming back-channel dialogue with New Delhi ever since taking charge in October 2015. Not only … [Read more...] about Why did the National Security Advisor resign?
FATF blueson July 14, 2018As widely expected, Pakistan has officially been placed on the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) grey list. The interim government, despite all diplomatic efforts in recent weeks, remained hapless in averting the decision since it was bound to happen owing to China and Saudi Arabia's 11th hour withdrawal of support back in February 2018. Only Turkey supported Pakistan which signifies how the … [Read more...] about FATF blues
The rise and fall of Fawad Hasan Fawadon July 11, 2018When National Accountability Bureau (NAB) finally arrested Fawad Hasan Fawad last week, it marked the end of an era. Not just because of the deep imprint of the former principal secretary to the prime minister over the latest stint of Pakistan Muslim League — Noon (PML-N)’s rule, but also because his downfall represents a fall in grace of the powerful “N group” in Pakistan Administrative Service … [Read more...] about The rise and fall of Fawad Hasan Fawad
Peace that won’t go to pieceson July 1, 2018For Afghanistan, the last couple of decades have been nothing less than an endless nightmare. April marked the 40th anniversary of the Saur Revolution, which remains a key turning point of the Cold War to this day, along with the ouster and sham trial of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Several events which followed them led to the eventual downfall of the almighty Soviet Union. Just like the Titanic was … [Read more...] about Peace that won’t go to pieces
Ambassadors of naughton June 8, 2018While I have been consistently highlighting the general decline of Pakistan's diplomacy in my recent writings, this time, the focus would be on the deterioration in the quality of the country's contractual ambassadors. For a considerable part of its history, Pakistan's foreign policy was steered by an exceptional set of non-career diplomats that made their mark in a world of complex diplomacy. … [Read more...] about Ambassadors of naught
Ali Jehangir Siddiqui’s appointment in Washingtonon June 3, 2018Ali Jehangir Siddiqui has finally assumed the charge of Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, earlier this week. The appointment of the scion of the JS family as envoy to Washington has created much furore in the media, and the reasons were manifold with his lack of experience in diplomacy being the primaryone. Having been part of an equity fund, he managed the family holdings including the … [Read more...] about Ali Jehangir Siddiqui’s appointment in Washington
The Sharifs and the Foreign Officeon May 14, 2018In the context of this debate the past few days have been quite eventful and enlightening. My investigative op-ed for Daily Times — published on 7th May 2018 — received feedback from dozens of diplomats of the Pakistan Foreign Service, who are deeply concerned about the systematic degradation of their service by the outgoing government. In the view of former Pakistani High Commissioner to New … [Read more...] about The Sharifs and the Foreign Office
The shameful decline of Pakistani diplomacyon May 7, 2018As an avid follower of current affairs, I have studied Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s foreign policy as a case study comparison for introspecting into the current state of affairs of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Back in those days, the country was considered to be a leading power in the developing and Islamic world. It gained the respect of not only its admirers but critics too in the international arena. … [Read more...] about The shameful decline of Pakistani diplomacy
