Abdul basit high commissioner biography samples

When former Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit revealed that he had persuaded Ms Shoba De to write an article that reflected Islamabad’s views on the Kashmir issue and to recommend that plebiscite was the only solution, almost everyone thought that he had done so only to massage his inflated ego. But with Ms De outrightly denying this insinuation, Basit’s revelation triggered a huge debate on who was lying and who was telling the truth. Not for a moment did anyone try to analyse why would a former diplomat of a not-so-friendly country suddenly decide to divulge confidential information about how he had convinced a prominent local journalist to produce motivated content that went against the interests of the host nation.

What could be the motivation for Basit’s bolt-from- the blue revelation? Since Ms De has done him no harm, it’s evident that Basit’s allegations weren’t driven by any personal grudges. Nor can one expect a seasoned diplomat like him succumbing to a sudden urge for seeking publicity through an exposé that could alienate his own High Commission from the media fraternity of the host country. So why would a former Pakistani High Commissioner to India tattle on Ms De, knowing fully well that doing so would amount to admitting that Islamabad is following unethical diplomatic practices? Doesn’t Basit know that his revelations will henceforth make Indian media persons extremely wary of engaging with Pakistan High Commission staff due to fears of being ‘exposed’ subsequently?

In the final analysis, it becomes apparent that while Basit didn’t personally gain anything from his disclosure, the same will now make it very difficult for the present staff at the Pakistan High Commission to ‘cultivate’ reputed scribes and ‘convince’ media houses to churn out inimical content aimed at influencing certain sections of society and anti-establishment pressure groups. Since the whole incident appears to make no sense at all, it’s necessary to explore other plausib

The letter listed several reasons why Chaudhry was “not made for the delicate profession of diplomacy”, including the joint statement issued by India and Pakistan after a 2015 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then premier Nawaz Sharif at Ufa, Russia, that referred to an agreement on the national security advisers of the two sides discussing “all issues connected to terrorism” but contained no reference to the Kashmir issue.

Basit, who opted for early retirement and was replaced in New Delhi by Sohail Mahmood, has been silent on the letter since it began circulating on social media on Monday. The influential Dawn newspaper quoted its sources in the Foreign Office as saying that the letter is genuine.

Basit and Chaudhry share some history – in December 2013, Basit was widely tipped to become the foreign secretary when the government chose Chaudhry for the post at the last minute. At the time, Basit was the envoy to Germany and had even returned to Pakistan in anticipation of being appointed to the post.

In February this year, the government picked Basit’s junior Tehmina Janjua as the country’s first woman foreign secretary even though Basit had again been tipped for the post. At the same time, Chaudhry was named Pakistan’s envoy to the US.

In the letter purportedly written from New Delhi on July 5 this year, Basit was reacting to a farewell letter sent by Chaudhry in March.

“The more I think the more I am convinced that you have been the worst Foreign Secretary ever. My concern is that you would also end up being the worst Pakistan Ambassador in Washington DC,” Basit wrote.

Basit wrote he could “cite many examples” to back up his contention that C

By Abdul Basit

inclusive of all taxes

We will notify you when the book is released!

We will email you when the book is released!

Please allow notification and avoid private mode for this feature to work.

About the book

Hostility is former Pakistan high commissioner to India Abdul Basit’s memoir of his tenure in New Delhi, from 2014 to 2017. The book takes us through perhaps the most difficult era in India-Pakistan relations in recent years. While Narendra Modi’s first prime-ministership began with a new hope of normalising relations between Pakistan and India, subsequent events unfortunately proved otherwise.

In his account, Abdul Basit takes us through the highs and lows of what is easily among the most difficult diplomatic postings anywhere the world. Written with honesty, lucidity, and filled with explosive nuggets about what goes on behind the scenes between India and Pakistan, Hostility provides a rare insight into what is possibly the most damaged bilateral relationship in the world.