Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari branded United States Ambassador to Kabul John R Bass, a "little pygmy" in a high-level diplomatic Twitter row that erupted over ongoing peace talks between Washington and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The furore underscores the delicate balance of regional tensions as the US steps up a push to find a way out of Afghanistan, more than 17 years after the invasion.
It began after Prime Minister Imran Khan reportedly suggested an interim government in Afghanistan to help smooth the talks process, making the comment during a briefing with local reporters on Monday.
PM Imran's comments caused uproar in Afghanistan. Kabul recalled its ambassador on Tuesday. The Foreign Office downplayed the premier's comments on Wednesday, saying they had been reported "out of context... leading to an unwarranted reaction".
But shortly after US ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass issued a tweet rebuking Imran while alluding to his past as captain of Pakistan's World Cup-winning cricket team and numerous cheating scandals in the sport involving Pakistani players.
Meeting with Taliban cancelled due to objections by Afghan govt, says PM Imran
"Some aspects of #cricket apply well in diplomacy, some do not. @ImranKhanPTI, important to resist temptation to ball-tamper with the #Afghanistan peace process and its internal affairs. #AfgPeace," the tweet read.
Some aspects of #cricket apply well in diplomacy, some do not. @ImranKhanPTI, important to resist temptation to ball-tamper with the #Afghanistan peace process and its internal affairs. #AfgPeace
— Chargé d’Affaires Karen Decker (@USAmbKabul) March 27, 2019
Pakistanis outraged at the snub to their leader from a foreign envoy in another country took to Twitter in response - including Mazari and Finance Minister Asad Umar.
Clearly you little pygmy your knowledge of ball tampering is as void as your understanding of Afghanistan and the region! Clearly in your case ignorance is certainly not bliss! Another sign of Trumpian mischief a la Khalilzad style! https://t.co/ZOySvWJNDq
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 27, 2019
"Clearly you little pygmy your knowledge of ball tampering is as void as your understanding of Afghanistan and the region! Clearly in your case ignorance is certainly not bliss! Another sign of Trumpian mischief a la Khalilzad style!" she wrote, referring to the US envoy leading the peace talks, Zalmay Khalilzad.
You shd focus on your President's tendency of violating int law and UN resolutions to satisfy Israel's list for annexing territory. He really needs to resist temptation of unilateralism & muscle flexing. As for Afghan peace process Zal & US were getting nowhere till PMIK helped https://t.co/ZOySvWJNDq
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 27, 2019
"You could do with a few lessons in diplomacy - or do u feel u can insult Pakistan and it's leader and we will keep silent? Get real! U are nowhere with the peace process without support from PMIK and our govt. So get a reality check."
U cld do with a few lessons in diplomacy - or do u feel u can insult Pakistan and it's leader and we will keep silent? Get real! U are nowhere with the peace process without support from PMIK and our govt. So get a reality check. https://t.co/QryQi0RmBM
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 27, 2019
"Your tweet shows you understand neither cricket nor diplomacy. With the afghan peace process at such a critical juncture hope the US will be able to find better diplomatic skills to deal with the delicate issues at hand," said Umar.
Your tweet shows you understand neither cricket nor diplomacy. With the afghan peace process at such a critical juncture hope the US will be able to find better diplomatic skills to deal with the delicate issues at hand. https://t.co/9iYWfOF92U
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 27, 2019
When the Twitterverse accused her of violating diplomatic norms, she doubled down.
"Haha! Haters gonna hate! But seriously what diplomatic norms? US dips have been violating them all day today from Zalmay to this moron!" she wrote in response to one critic.
Haha! Haters gonna hate! But seriously what diplomatic norms? US dips have been violating them all day today from Zalmay to this moron! https://t.co/7iQKgRTVPv
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 27, 2019
Bass's comments garnered outrage from Pakistani twitterverse.
If khalilzad negotiating with the taliban isn't interference in internal matters of Afghanistan, then neither is Imran khan remarks regarding interim government. Its important that Washington resists temptation to ball-tamper with the South Asia's peace & salvage a little dignity
— Asfandyar Bhittani (@AsfandBhittani) March 27, 2019
...excuse me? U travel half way around the world, over throw Govts, kill hundreds of thousands anywhere because???
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) March 27, 2019
There have been many a good Ambassador of the US! Sadly, you’ll never make that list with this attitude.
Excellency, seventeen years of egregious follies in Afghanistan by your 'best and the brightest' seem to have frustrated your diplomatic skills. perhaps it's time for you to do a refresher course in diplomatic nuance? as for swinging the ball both ways, leave that to us. cheers!
— EH (@ejazhaider) March 27, 2019
You don’t get to talk about the Prime Minister of Pakistan like that.
— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) March 27, 2019
Meray munnay, your forces have been in that country for two decades. You don't really get to lecture anyone on peace. https://t.co/KpnpBgHvRU
— Товарищ Зил-и-Илахй 🇵🇸 (@XilleIlahi) March 27, 2019
I am outraged and appalled by the disrespectful remarks made directly by @USAmbKabul to our current leader @ImranKhanPTI. Besides being careless and undiplomatic, his words do great damage to the ties we, in Pakistan, are trying to build with our Afghan neighbors.
— Shehzad Arbab (@ShahzadArbab1) March 27, 2019
The Afghan peace process
Former Taliban minister held in Peshawar amid US push for Afghan peace talks
The Taliban have long refused to speak with Kabul, deeming the administration of President Ashraf Ghani - who is seeking re-election this year - puppets of the West.
The US insists that it is negotiating with the insurgents on Afghan peace talks, but fears are sharp in Kabul that the government is being sidelined from its own peace process in Washington's rush to exit.
Many predict a US withdrawal before any peace deal is done with Kabul could see the Taliban return to some semblance of power in Afghanistan, or for the fighting to fracture into a full-blown ethnic civil war.
With additional input from AFP.
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