Snippets
The FO spokesman Undiplomatic has a legitimate reason to object to the highly unconventional step taken by diplomatic representatives stationed in Pakistan including Germany and France to issue a missive through press release urging the Pakistan government to denounce Russian action against Ukraine. The envoys issued a rare joint statement asking Islamabad to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine and it was done at a time when an emergency session of the General Assembly of United Nations was in progress. There is hardly any doubt that the timing and the phrasing of the statement implied influencing Pakistani position during the UNGA debate though Pakistan ultimately abstained from voting in this unbinding vote. Undiplomatic is widely noted that diplomats are expected to observe diplomatic norms and protocols and refrain from carrying out an activity prejudicial to diplomatic relationship between states. This highly unusual step was not needed in wake of the fact that Pakistan is actively engaged with European countries on the Russia-Ukraine war and is not favouring any of the belligerents. Such an activity may actually create bad blood between states and may poison relations that may prove harmful in the longer run. If ever this step was required to be taken then it should have been discreetly done through normal diplomatic channels and without making it public. TW
