Diplomatic reshuffle

0
103

Over-delayed but pretty decent

Pakistan embassy in Washington has been working without an ambassador since Sherry Rehman resigned in the wake of PPP’s electoral defeat in May. Keeping in view the nature of relations between Pakistan and the US, the absence of an envoy in the world’s most powerful capital for such a long period was highly anomalous. A casual look at the list of Pakistan’s ambassadors to US would be enough to show the high importance successive governments from very early days onwards have given to the relations between the two countries. Political figures like M A H Ispahany and Muhammad Ali Bogra, outstanding diplomats like Agha Hilali and Sultan Mohammad Khan and high ranking military officers like Lt Gen (retd) Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, Air Chief Marshal (retd) Zulfiqar Ali Khan and Gen (retd) Jahangir Karamat were selected as ambassadors to US. With the US troops scheduled to leave Afghanistan next year the relations have acquired further importance. Washington is seeking Islamabad’s assistance in negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. The US also needs Pakistan’s help during the evacuation of the NATO troops and their equipment. In case the US acquires the right to keep bases in the war torn country, major part of the supplies for its troops will have to come via Karachi port. The Obama administration realizes that Pakistan has to play a significant role in the stability of the region after the exit of US led ISAF troops.

Jalil Abbas Jilani will be Pakistan’s first career diplomat in nine years to be appointed to the key post, the last one being Ashraf Jahangir Qazi. The PM reportedly had wanted an ambassador with a political background which apparently delayed the appointment. In view of the challenging tasks that lie ahead for a new envoy, Islamabad has made the right choice to appoint the senior-most diplomat in foreign office to the post. Ambassador Jilani has interacted with the NATO HQ based in Brussels as envoy to Belgium and the European Union. He also commands an understanding of important regional and international issues. Other ambassadors sent to India, UAE and Afghanistan in a diplomatic reshuffle are also career diplomats.

The acceptance of the credentials of a new ambassador follows a well-defined but somewhat long procedure. Among other delaying factors is the US president’s busy schedule. Whether Ambassador Jilani proceeds to Washington in advance of the PM’s visit or accompanies him, it is still not known if he would be able to get accreditation by the time of Nawaz Sharif’s arrival. If he doesn’t, everyone knows where the fault lay.