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In a rather surprising and significant move, Pakistan’s top envoy to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi has been replaced. The news comes just days after Prime Minister Imran Khan returned from the United States after a successful tour and address at the UN General Assembly.
Maleeha Lodhi served four years at the coveted post. She was appointed by the previous Nawaz government in 2015 and worked to expand Pakistan’s efforts at the global body. She will be most remembered for promoting Pakistani culture and cuisine among UN diplomats.
In 2015, she rang the opening bell at the NASDAQ in New York making it the first time the stock exchange opened its doors to an ambassador from Pakistan. Many would not forget when Pakistan’s Independence Day was celebrated at the iconic Times Square in 2016. During her tenure, she continued to also champion several causes including climate change, environment, and child education.
Lodhi’s removal also comes as a surprise as she successfully managed Imran Khan’s UN visit. The prime minister had a whirlwind seventy engagements in seven days. Her meeting with Imran Khan last year after he won the elections had left the impression that her job would be secure.
The removal of Lodhi was among several transfers and removals approved by PM Khan at the foreign office, but this one was the most significant. Lodhi is a non-career diplomat although she has served as the ambassador to the UK and US. This probably went against her as the government has removed all such political appointments and prefers to hire professional diplomats.
Her replacement is the hawkish former diplomat Munir Akram. He is no stranger to this job having served in the same position from 2002 to 2008. He was removed after developing differences with then President Asif Zardari for refusing to pursue the case of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination to the UN.
Munir Akram also has a checkered record with US officials. In 2003, he faced assault charges leveled by a woman, and the US had threatened to withdraw his diplomatic immunity. The charges were subsequently dropped, but the case may haunt him as he heads back to the US.
This replacement sees a huge shift in Imran Khan’s government policy. Pakistan will now take a more aggressive stance on Kashmir and against India. Munir Akram is known for his bellicose approach towards India rather than appeasement. Pakistan has launched a diplomatic offensive to highlight the Kashmir issue, and this appointment is a step in that direction.
Political appointments are common in Pakistan to secure vested interests as there is no stringent vetting process. Munir Akram may prove to be a dark horse. He is a veteran and a foreign policy stalwart. It needs to be seen how his aggressive stance will carry forward Pakistan’s interests and policies at the world’s highest forum.
