Ministry of foreign affairs: Pakistan without top envoys in 20 foreign missions

ISLAMABAD: At a time when Pakistan is facing numerous problems on the diplomatic front, about 20 of its foreign missions across the world are functioning without ambassadors, The Express Tribune has learnt on good authority.

France and Sweden are among the countries where the ministry of foreign affairs lacks proper diplomatic representation. Meanwhile, a wide ranging reshuffle in the ministry also awaits the formal nod by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

The reshuffle includes posting Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir as ambassador to Germany, presumably against his wishes. Salman is purportedly keen on replacing Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Pakistan’s permanent representative at the United Nations. However, people at the helm of affairs, reportedly do not agree.

In accordance with the Foreign Office traditions, the foreign secretary is given an ambassadorial post before his retirement. Bashir’s lobbyists cite the example of former foreign secretary, Shamshad Ahmed, who was posted in New York as his last diplomatic assignment.

Haroon, who has been asked to continue in his office despite the expiration of his three-year term, is allegedly not very keen to continue in the post. Ambassador Shahid Kamal, currently serving in Germany, is the most likely candidate to replace Salman Bashir as the secretary foreign affairs.

Abbas Jilani, the ambassador in Brussels, was another contender for the post but was bypassed on grounds that he has yet to complete his first year in his current post.

Shafqat Saeed, a senior foreign ministry officer, is likely to be posted as the ambassador in Paris while Haroon Shaukat is being considered for Tehran.

Shafqat Saeed, who retired in 2008 and is serving on an extension which also expired in October this year, has been asked to continue. Ashraf Qureshi, the current ambassador to Bangladesh, is also about to retire soon.

Meanwhile, Umer Ali Sherzai, the top diplomat in Jeddah, and Asghar Afridi, the ambassador in Doha, have been asked to continue serving despite the expiration of their contracts in October this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2010.