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ISLAMABAD: In what is being billed as rare diplomatic snub, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has skipped the widely expected stop in Pakistan in the itinerary for his upcoming first visit to the region.
Ban Ki Moons four nation trip later this month takes him to India, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines.
In the past Pakistan made an important stopover for the secretary generals visiting the region.
The last UN secretary general to visit Pakistan was Kofi Annan, who traveled to Pakistan after the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake.
No concrete reason has been given by the United Nations for skipping Pakistan, which Moon had himself described as the frontline state in the war on terror.
UN Resident Coordinator Mr Fikret Akcura, however, attributed the decision to paucity of time and pressing engagements of Moon. The senior officials while on their overseas trips have very limited time and a number of important engagements. In any case the visit to a country could not have been extended to a neighboring country.
Pakistan conveniently dismissed by Akcura as just a neighboring country that did not merit a visit, it should be recalled, has been one of the leading contributors of troops to the UN peace keeping missions and is piloting the One UN project for reforms in the UN system. Besides, the UN has a huge development portfolio of about US$ 611 million in Pakistan. The country is also a member of the UN Human Rights Council.
Furthermore, the UN is about to constitute a fact finding mission on the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Diplomatic sources say Moon was reluctant on acceding to the Pakistani request for a Hariri style investigation, but was compelled to agree to a fact finding mission instead following a personal appeal from her widower President Zardari.
Sources in the UN system in Pakistan have indicated that the secretary general had decided not to visit Islamabad because of security fears.
Moon had earlier this month approved a change in threat level for Pakistan in the aftermath of Marriott Hotel bombing raising it to Security Level 3.
Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq did not comment on secretary general not visiting Pakistan.
Former Pakistans permanent representative at the UN Shamshad Ahmed regretted that the secretary general took a selective approach in his visit to the region, which he believed that Moon should have avoided.
He said till now there has not been a single occasion when a secretary general selectively visited this region.
Ahmed said these were unusual times for Pakistan, which was in eye of storm, and Moon could have made a supportive gesture to the elected government by visiting Islamabad and also reinforcing the democratic dispensations image overseas.
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | UN Secretary General snubs Pakistan AAH
Ban Ki Moons four nation trip later this month takes him to India, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines.
In the past Pakistan made an important stopover for the secretary generals visiting the region.
The last UN secretary general to visit Pakistan was Kofi Annan, who traveled to Pakistan after the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake.
No concrete reason has been given by the United Nations for skipping Pakistan, which Moon had himself described as the frontline state in the war on terror.
UN Resident Coordinator Mr Fikret Akcura, however, attributed the decision to paucity of time and pressing engagements of Moon. The senior officials while on their overseas trips have very limited time and a number of important engagements. In any case the visit to a country could not have been extended to a neighboring country.
Pakistan conveniently dismissed by Akcura as just a neighboring country that did not merit a visit, it should be recalled, has been one of the leading contributors of troops to the UN peace keeping missions and is piloting the One UN project for reforms in the UN system. Besides, the UN has a huge development portfolio of about US$ 611 million in Pakistan. The country is also a member of the UN Human Rights Council.
Furthermore, the UN is about to constitute a fact finding mission on the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Diplomatic sources say Moon was reluctant on acceding to the Pakistani request for a Hariri style investigation, but was compelled to agree to a fact finding mission instead following a personal appeal from her widower President Zardari.
Sources in the UN system in Pakistan have indicated that the secretary general had decided not to visit Islamabad because of security fears.
Moon had earlier this month approved a change in threat level for Pakistan in the aftermath of Marriott Hotel bombing raising it to Security Level 3.
Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq did not comment on secretary general not visiting Pakistan.
Former Pakistans permanent representative at the UN Shamshad Ahmed regretted that the secretary general took a selective approach in his visit to the region, which he believed that Moon should have avoided.
He said till now there has not been a single occasion when a secretary general selectively visited this region.
Ahmed said these were unusual times for Pakistan, which was in eye of storm, and Moon could have made a supportive gesture to the elected government by visiting Islamabad and also reinforcing the democratic dispensations image overseas.
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | UN Secretary General snubs Pakistan AAH
