Lt-Gen (retd) Bilal Akbar new envoy to Saudi Arabia

[Jungibaaz]

Some matters are too important to be left to civvies, sometimes it's best to cut the middle man.

 

[SQ8]

Generals are getting appointed as ambassadors for past 30 to 40 years. USA also appoints retired Generals as ambassadors so does many countries.

I think the point was that our diplomatic corps is so full of duds that one needs to rope in non-career ones or get points across. The non-career folks aren’t a guarantee either - although senior military personnel do get a lot of diplomatic exposure and assume those roles due to the nature of the posts in those final 2-3 star years.

The odd retired General getting appointed as an Ambassador is fine, but Army personnel taking pretty much every key position in or representing Pakistan is an issue!



How many former PN officers serve as Ambassadors for Pakistan? Or if we were going to reciprocate, why not a former PN Rear Admiral? Because it is just a coincidence - and more truthfully - an excuse!



And have we not learnt from Altaf Hussain, Nawaz Sharif, or Bhutto clan? Might as well hand over everything to the Army then. But then again, have we not learnt from Zia or Musharraf or that the Army has been behind some of the biggest F ups in Pak history including the rise and fall of pretty much every politician in past 2 decades? So why does no one question their f ups? Or why do they not share in the blame?

I fully support Pak armed forces, and support our Generals IF THEY STICK TO THEIR ACTUAL DUTIES! But I'm sick of the Army treating Pakistan the same way the likes of Sharif and Bhutto did - like their abba ki jaidaad.

/rantover

The gentleman before this diplomat was a PN admiral. Very qualified for the post too.

 

[Imran Khan]

poor general he has no money to survive after 40 years of military service can not live on pension

 

[HAIDER]

Very professional, brought peace in Karachi.. ex ranger chief.

 

[The Eagle]

How many former PN officers serve as Ambassadors for Pakistan? Or if we were going to reciprocate, why not a former PN Rear Admiral? Because it is just a coincidence - and more truthfully - an excuse!

You can be reasoned with, only if you are ready or willing to see beyond 1 petty argument.

 

[ghazi52]

Gen Bilal Akbar new envoy to Saudi Arabia

Lt-Gen (retd) Bilal Akbar



ISLAMABAD: The government has appointed Lt-Gen (retd) Bilal Akbar as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, replacing Raja Ali Ejaz, a career diplomat, who was on his first ambassadorial posting and had been the envoy for about two years.

With this, Islamabad and Riyadh both will be having each other’s ambassadors in their respective capitals from the armed forces since the Saudi ambassador in Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki was from the Royal Saudi Navy and retired as Rear Admiral. He was the defence attaché of Saudi mission in Islamabad and elevated as the ambassador here four years ago.

Well-placed diplomatic sources told The News here on Monday that sudden shuffling of ambassador for Saudi Arabia is a conspicuous development with regard to the relationship of two countries in the backdrop of lessening warmth in ties.

Interestingly, relations between Saudi Arabia and India have experienced a marked improvement in recent years. Indian Army Chief for the first time visited the Kingdom late last year. It is understood that General Bilal Akbar will have to bring the relationship with Saudi Arabia back on track and save the relations from further deterioration.

Diplomatic observers say some officials in Pakistan were expecting high echelon delegations from the Kingdom but no schedule has been announced on this behalf, including a high profile visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, who was believed to be visiting this month.

Gen Bilal Akbar new envoy to Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: The government has appointed Lt-Gen Bilal Akbar as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, replacing Raja Ali Ejaz, a career diplomat, who was on his first ambassadorial posting and...

www.thenews.com.pk

 

[POPEYE-Sailor]

If the official announcement has been made, I say congratulations. Don't want to hype it out or at-least to sound like that for isolated minds but, Pakistan is rising without worries about the hurdles and decided to clean the infected roots once for all. Blackmailing mafia and agents will be running from pillar to post.

This appointment has far bigger impact than a political worker can appreciate or taunt about.

Good going man..... hats off.

I dont know why pakistani people do Phd in foreign affairs' relationship or CSS. They should go in army to become CEO, ambassador and get other elite post.
Hats off

 

[tman786]

Civilians and retired military personnel, are employed as Pakistan's ambassadors around the world.

This is the case for ALL countries.

Not sure why smelly sanghis and their patwaris brothers, are whining about it!

 

[The Eagle]

I dont know why pakistani people do Phd in foreign affairs' relationship or CSS. They should go in army to become CEO, ambassador and get other elite post.
Hats off

Given such knowledge or lack of knowledge, I wonder how they it.
KSA ambassador to Pakistan, as mentioned in OP.
And not just that but read this,

A civilian will have to come through CSS exam whereby, a Lt. Gen. Qualifications, experience and working discipline is already proven given the need of time and then the sort of fight where he is going to be posted. Ironically, instead of pondering upon the reason and why an official with such cardentials is posted; our friends have so much objections as why not the CSS passed.... No doubt z we do lag behind in certain areas whereby others have already gone past the point that we think as a goal for us. Bhai Jan.... Agay bharh lo.... Instead, of our personal philosophies and petty objections.

See above, not just KSA ambassador to Pakistan but, a country US which is like a certificate of successful diplomacy, has her Retd. General appointed as an ambassador to KSA.

One should ask as why such a coincidence of retired servicemen in this KSA chapter? For the beginners, let's just say that like USA KSA diplomacy which is more of Military nature in pursuance of strategical success, Pakistan did make a move as an equalizer. Not to forget the growing indiana luppa chuppi in KSA royal palace.

 

[Path-Finder]

I have a strong feeling that there is hard truth behind what Haroon Rashid said! This guy is a militaryman and not a diplomat and appointments in diplomacy matter a great deal! so the Pakistani lense for saudi kingdom has changed!

 

[Amaa'n]

no general left behind

You would know better, no one takes civilians seriously & for a country like KSA where our relationship is mostly Military - Military, it is wise to have a General then someone from Foreign Service .... plus CSPs are monkeys anyway

 

[The Eagle]

I have a strong feeling that there is hard truth behind what Haroon Rashid said! This guy is a militaryman and not a diplomat and appointments in diplomacy matter a great deal! so the Pakistani lense for saudi kingdom has changed!

A message but hard one that I can only sense here. Let's see. Not to forget that RS is already there. Also not to forget that Israelis are already making moves in Gulf. So also to remember that how Indians pretending or at least claiming to have a strong hold in royal palaces. Let's just say that there's need of man like him... disciplined, determined, mentally tough given his service and with strong sense.of threat given his polishing and past work and so the habit to not to trust the verbal promises and not be misled easily or traped.

 

[Path-Finder]

A message but hard one that I can only sense here. Let's see. Not to forget that RS is already there. Also not to forget that Israelis are already making moves in Gulf. So also to remember that how Indians pretending or at least claiming to have a strong hold in royal palaces. Let's just say that there's need of man like him... disciplined, determined, mentally tough given his service and with strong sense.of threat given his polishing and past work and so the habit to not to trust the verbal promises and not be misled easily or traped.

I completely forgot that RS is still there and yes with the ixraelis fully embedded in the kingdom, naturally they will force the house to push Pakistan out of the kingdom and replace em with say indians? with an appointment like the general means that he will report back directly to the security establishment of Pakistan. either way things are disintegrating and being reformed in a different matter.

You would know better, no one takes civilians seriously & for a country like KSA where our relationship is mostly Military - Military, it is wise to have a General then someone from Foreign Service .... plus CSPs are monkeys anyway

so the stick goes with the general.

 

[nahtanbob]

I dont know why pakistani people do Phd in foreign affairs' relationship or CSS. They should go in army to become CEO, ambassador and get other elite post.
Hats off

you do not need a PhD in International affairs to be a diplomat. That is more suited for a think thank in Islamabad. you need to be literate and cultural/politcally savvy. It helps to have political connections inside/outside Pakistan

the only problem with military types is some of them are mundane run of the mill creatures will little or no imagination for matters outside their area of expertise

 

[HAIDER]

I dont know why pakistani people do Phd in foreign affairs' relationship or CSS. They should go in army to become CEO, ambassador and get other elite post.
Hats off

After 1980 our CCS academy sucks. Majority of appointment in civil services not on merit. They are on " sifarish" only. Army is the only institution left where officers groomed and massive interaction with foreign delegates. CSS academy produce Zakota jin.