A group of 22 envoys to Pakistan transgressed diplomatic norms by penning a joint statement and posting it on the social media platforms, urging Pakistan to condemn Russian action in Ukraine. The matter was duly taken up by the Foreign Office, which called a group of ambassadors to convey to them that it was not the right approach to conduct diplomacy. Some of the European envoys who shared the joint statement on twitter later deleted it. Keeping in view the sensitivity of Pakistan’s relations with the EU, the issue should have ended there. But it didn’t.
Taking a more aggressive tone than diplomatically mandated, Prime Minister Imran Khan called out the EU countries at a public meeting in a way reminiscent of the way he addresses his political opponents in Pakistan. He was later taken to task on the issue by the opposition and perhaps then was briefed by advisers that this was not the way to settle differences with other countries. To compensate for the indiscretion, Mr Khan took up the matter with EU Council President Charles Michel on Monday, expressed concern over the evolving situation in Ukraine and was agreeable to Islamabad playing a facilitating role to reach a diplomatic solution.
This seems odd. How can a person promote understanding between two countries at war, keeping in view that he has encouraged polarization in his own country and consistently refused to enter into a working relationship with opposition parties, and even declined to observe the minimum social norms like shaking hands with leaders of other parties, including his own coalition partners? Mr Khan, who is keen to be seen as a mediator, has proved himself to be incapable of controlling dissensions in his own party, with the result that there is a rebellion-like situation in the PTI.
One wonders if there is enough time to resolve an intricate international dispute while the opposition has already submitted a no-confidence motion against him with the National Assembly Secretariat? Again, in order to be a credible facilitator, one needs the confidence of both the contending parties. Are Russia and Ukraine willing to accept him as an a mediator? Will he succeed where the UN has failed?
