Requiem for a mentor

Ambassador Khokhar was equally steadfast, principled in dealings with his own leadership

On 26 December 2023, former foreign secretary Ambassador Riaz Khokhar breathed his last. His passing away is not only a devastating loss for his family but also for hundreds of his friends, colleagues and admirers around the world. It is also a huge loss for Pakistan — which he served with distinction and dedication above and beyond the call of duty throughout his illustrious career. Even after his retirement, Ambassador Khokhar continued to serve Pakistan with his usual candor, honesty and pragmatism. For me personally, he was more than a senior colleague — indeed a guide and mentor to whom I looked up to as a role model.

As a Pakistani diplomat, Riaz Khokhar had a dream career, serving as Ambassador to India, the US and China, three of the most consequential countries for Pakistan’s foreign relations. His subsequent elevation to the position of Foreign Secretary was an obvious and unquestionable choice, a post he fully deserved and in which he served with remarkable distinction. After retirement he continued to be consulted on national issues by the political and military leadership as well as leading civil and military institutions.

A through professional with an uncanny memory, Ambassador Khokhar possessed the rare ability to grasp the essence of the most complex issues almost instantly. Equally impressive was his ability to distill and explain a problem with remarkable clarity and brevity in the most frank and direct manner, irrespective of the status of his interlocutor.

I had the privilege to serve under Ambassador Khokhar in our New Delhi and Washington embassies. Though a man who did not suffer fools, he was compassionate and supportive, while leading by example. Always cool, calm and collected, even in crisis situations, he instilled a rigorous work ethic with a proactive approach. In India, he was considered a “hard-liner’’ and a hawk” but in reality his position was brutally realistic and pragmatic — vindicated by subsequent developments. Even so, Ambassador Khokhar won friends and admirers in India who respected him for his honesty and integrity.

Two incidents in my memory describe his grace under pressure. Following the December 1992 riots by Hindus fanatics, our Foreign Office allowed non-essential staff and families to evacuate New Delhi. However, the Ambassador’s family decided not to do so. When the Ambassador found out that my wife had also refused to evacuate, he said that this was the spirit he truly admired because Pakistani diplomats should not be seen as running away. Some year later, the Ambassador himself was targeted by Indian intelligence — his official car burst into flames and burnt down completely. Luckily he was not in it. Then, while driving another official vehicle himself, he realised that the nuts on the front two wheels had been loosened, forcing the vehicle to crash into a wall. But Ambassador Khokhar refused to be intimidated and continued in his resolute manner to serve in India for several more years.

Serving with him again in Washington, I had yet another opportunity to witness Ambassador Khokhar’s unruffled demeanor in May 1998 when Pakistan came under tremendous pressure from the Clinton administration not to conduct its nuclear tests following the Indian nuclear tests. While advising his own government not to succumb to American pressure, he was also absolutely clear in his assessment that there would be no “reward” for not testing as the Clinton administration was promising. Such genuine and prescient advice was a key input for Pakistan’s decision to conduct its nuclear tests subsequently.

Ambassador Khokhar was equally steadfast and principled in dealings with his own leadership, often speaking out and even opposing policies that he knew were against the national interest. These issues ranged from granting favours to political or personal favourites of the leadership to policy decisions such as on Kashmir, Afghanistan or the nuclear programme. Usually his views initially prevailed.

Ambassador Khokhar’s strong personality also made him a tireless champion of the underdog. He was a relentless and uncompromising supporter of the Kashmiri freedom struggle, engaging openly and fearlessly with Kashmiri leaders even while in India and advocating their cause at every available platform. No wonder that his demise is today being mourned by Kashmiris everywhere. Similarly, he was a staunch advocate of the Palestinian struggle for a homeland and vehement critic of American backed Jewish Zionist policies to repress the Palestinian. Ambassador Khokhar was equally critical of injustice within Pakistan and availed of every opportunity to express grave concern over the plight of the people in Balochistan; that denying the rights of the Baloch could lead to a situation similar to East Pakistan and which was already being exploited by Indians.

In addition to national issues, Riaz Khokhar was equally committed to his service and colleagues. He prided himself on being a “builder” and was responsible for several projects including the construction of the new block of the Foreign Office and the new embassy building in Washington, for which construction started during this tenure. He also ensured much needed increases in pay and allowances for officers and staff as well as improvement in living conditions, including education allowances for children of personnel posted abroad. Even though he was a hard taskmaster, he was also highly approachable and helpful, ready to accommodate any genuine grievance. The highest accolade that he would ascribe to a deserving colleague was to call him “partner” — a recognition that was generously bestowed given his large-hearted nature.

Suffering from illness for the last year, Riaz Khokhar confronted death as he had lived his life — with courage and optimism, determined to fight back and defy death till his last breath. He leaves behind the legacy of a giant, a larger than life personality whose huge shoes are unlikely to be filled by any successor. As a mentor to hundreds of his colleagues, we can only pray for his soul to rest in eternal peace in his Heavenly abode. He shall be severely missed by us all.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2024.

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