Mr Prime Minister, I would’ve never thought about it but today I am compelled to address this letter, a first among a three-part series, to you for bringing attention to some of the key issues facing Pakistan’s domestic and foreign policy fronts. You may not remember me, but we’ve briefly met a couple of times […]
An invitation to American University, Washington DC
While visiting the United States for official work a few weeks ago, I was bestowed the honour to be invited as a special guest by eminent Pakistani-American scholar, author and former diplomat Professor Akbar S. Ahmed to attend alecture by Mowahid Hussain Shah, another distinguished member of the diasporas’ legal community, at the American University’s […]
Indian intransigence exposes who doesn’t want peace in South Asia: Maleeha Lodhi
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 […]
Locked horns!
New York City: Dialogue? What Dialogue? New Delhi and Islamabad have once again locked horns against each other at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The events preceding the respective addresses of the foreign ministers of the two countries were no less than a dramatic scene out of a political thriller, with […]
India major impediment to regional progress: Pakistan
NEW YORK: Pakistan has accused India of creating hurdles in the way of promoting regional cooperation from the platform of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), after Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj left a SAARC meeting before hearing the Pakistan’s statement. “One country is holding SAARC hostage to its unruly attitude,” he told […]
Macron defies isolationist approach
NEW YORK: French President Emmanuel Macron defied the notion of isolationism and called on the world to adopt multilateralism in his address to the 73rd UN General Assembly session held in New York City on Tuesday (25 Sept). He was indirectly referring to US President Donald Trump’s speech earlier in the day which embodied the […]
Additional Secretaries heading important Federal Divisions in PTI Government?
As per the rules of business, a Federal Division is headed by a federal secretary of BPS-22, which is the highest possible rank attainable by bureaucrats in Pakistan. If no suitable grade 22 officer is available, a grade 21 officer can be appointed as Additional Secretary in charge to run a division, temporarily. However, there […]
Does High Commissioner to UK project ‘Naya Pakistan’?
Earlier 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 […]
Mr PM: the world awaits you in New York City!
The 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 […]
Why did the National Security Advisor resign?
At 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 […]