Missing the nuclear summit

And the lack of a foreign minister

A lot of hue and cry has been raised in the West regarding the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, the number of Pakistan’s nuclear assets and alleged dangers posed by miniature nuclear weapons. Some of these concerns were voiced in the American media on the eve of the summit also. In a news conference at Pakistan embassy in Washington, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhary ably addressed these concerns. But at a time when more than 50 world leaders are attending the summit, few would listen to a Pakistani diplomat. There was need, therefore, for Nawaz Sharif to present Pakistan’s case authoritatively before the world. Sharif’s presence would have made a difference. His absence was noted by a number of news channels including the FOX.

Equally important would have been the meeting with world leaders on the sidelines of the summit. President Obama is deeply committed to trying to bring about understanding between countries embroiled in long standing disputes like Japan and North Korea, whose rivalry includes border disputes and extends even to sports. Obama was expected to bring President Park Geun-hye of South Korea and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan together on the sidelines of the summit. One had expected the summit would provide the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India also an opportunity to interact. This was missed because of Nawaz Sharif staying away from the summit. Pakistan having no foreign minister, there was no credible substitute either at the summit.

Absence of a foreign minister has allowed cabinet members having no experience in diplomacy to issue foot-in-the-mouth statements on foreign policy issues causing embarrassment to the government. The irrepressible Ch Nisar is particularly fond of acting as the bull in the China shop, offering free of charge his ‘honest’ but often ill-considered opinion on any foreign policy issue, from US aid to Bangladesh hangings. Despite the government having consumed half its tenure, there is still a need to minimise foreign policy losses by appointing a full time foreign minister.