Pakistani officials must own up to their failures: Husain Haqqani

Former Pakistani ambassador to US hits back at Sartaj Aziz, says he must stop looking for scapegoats

Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani on Wednesday hit back at Sartaj Aziz saying officials in Pakistan must own up to their failures.

Responding to Aziz's comment that a former Pakistani ambassador in Washington has been lobbying against his own country, Haqqani said, "Officials should take responsibility for failed policies and their poor presentation abroad instead of looking for scapegoats to divert attention."



In a rejoinder issued to PM's adviser on foreign affairs, Haqqani said, Pakistan's difficulties in the United States were the result of years of supporting militants.

"I did not make the AQ Khan network, support the Taliban as they killed US soldiers in Afghanistan or allow UN designated terrorist groups to function openly so there is no point in blaming me for these policy failures.

"Neither I nor any other former ambassador was responsible for the OBL fiasco," Haqqani stated.

Here is my rejoinder to Sartaj Aziz sb. 'Change bad policies, don't blame me.' #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/ivjYthKyje

— Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) June 21, 2016

Addressing the lower house of parliament after opposition MPs criticised the government over recent foreign policy fiascos, Aziz made the controversial statement regarding Haqqani. Though Aziz didn’t name anyone, it was obvious that he was referring to Hussain Haqqani.



“He is trying to circumvent all our diplomatic efforts aimed at boosting bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States,” Aziz said. “The Foreign Office has serious reservations about his activities in the US.”