Basit points out Pakistan’s ‘worst diplomat ever’

• Ex-HC feels Aizaz’s heart is not in right place

Pakistan’s (former) High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on July 5, 2017, sent an official letter to Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in reference with his valedictory letter (FSO-1/2017 of March 12, 2017, as the foreign secretary.

“More I think the more I am convinced that you have been the worst foreign secretary ever,” he wrote in his letter, issued on officer letter head of Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi.

“My concern is that you would also end up being the worst Pakistan ambassador in Washington DC. The reasons are simple. First, you are not made for the delicate profession of diplomacy,” the letter said.

“I can cite many examples, the Ufa Joint Statement and Pakistan humiliating defeat at the Human Rights Council are sufficient to prove my point,” the letter said. “Second and it is more worrisome, your heart is not in the right place.”

The letter carried signatures of the former high commissioner. “I strongly feel that it is in Pakistan’s interest that you should immediately be removed from Washington DC,” he suggested in the letter.

“If not so, you should not be given extension beyond your superannuation on February 27, 2018. May Allah help Pakistan when people like you with weak and dubious credentials are at such important positions,” Abdul Basit ended.

The former high commissioner also sent a copy of the same letter to the Director of the Foreign Secretary’s Office (FSO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In July, the government had approved the request of Abdul Basit for a premature retirement from the service, as he was set to retire in April 2018.

Meanwhile, Sohail Mahmood, who is currently awaiting an appointment with India’s new President Ram Nath Kovind to present his credentials, is all set to take charge as Pakistan’s new high commissioner to India. Mahmood will succeed Abdul Basit. Before taking this new assignment, he was Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkey.