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International
Interview with His Excellency
H.E. Mr. Khalil-ur-Rahman HASHMI
Ambassador, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Your Excellency, could you tell us a little about control, counter-terrorism, climate change.
yourself and your life that led up to your post So, in a professional sense, work in Geneva is
in Geneva? mostly aligned with my previous experience.
I joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1994.
Since then I have worked in various positions With the pandemic, in-person diplomatic
in Islamabad and at our bilateral Missions in life is often slowed up to a halt, or continuing
Europe (Bonn, Copenhagen), Asia (Beijing) but shifted on-line, and often hobbled. What
and multilateral post in North America (UN is your conclusion – does ‘on-line diplomacy’
in New York). Most of my professional career have any long-term future?
revolved around arms control issues, with The pandemic is indeed unprecedented in its
three stints in Islamabad and two in New York. manifestations and impacts. It has disrupted
Before coming to Geneva, I led the Foreign the well established mode and means of
Ministry’s multilateral department, handling conducting multilateral diplomacy. I think
diverse subjects such as human rights, arms some of the virtual and hybrid modes are likely
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to stay with us, especially the representational “We are now striving to reorient
aspect. Having said that, the nature of
diplomatic work is such that the online bit towards geo-economics with a focus
of it may not fully substitute face-to-face on regional peace, connectivity,
interactions. Online diplomacy is certainly
better than no diplomacy at all. It has enabled sustainable development, tourism
countries with small footprint in Geneva to and partnerships.“
participate and contribute. It has helped bring
down travel and related costs. Over time,
improved software and greater cyber security
is likely to make virtual diplomacy even more
participatory and impactful.
and Budhist monastic complex of Takht-i-
Could you tell us briefly about your country Bahi (high spring) in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa
and its crucial geostrategic position in province. My favourite is Takht-i-Bahi,
Australasia? some 150 kilometres from the capital city of
Pakistan is a young and diverse country with Islamabad. It is a well preserved complete
ancient roots. It is host to the archeological Buddhist monastery perched on a hilltop,
sites and remains of Mehrgarh, Indus and which dates back to 1 century BC. I like it
st
Gandhara civilizations, which date back to because of its unique attributes i.e. its antiquity,
eight, four and two millennia, respectively. serenity, architecture and engineering. If you
Pakistan is the 5 most populous country with happen to be in Islamabad, a day trip to this
th
a population of 220 million and 30 largest in monastery is strongly recommended. If you
th
terms of area. Over 60 % of our population is are in Karachi or southern Pakistan, a trip to
younger than 30 years. Pakistan has been a Moenjodaro should be an essential part of the
generous, compassionate and one of the largest itinerary.
refugee hosting country. We continue to be
one of the top troop contributing countries Your country was born after the establishment
to the UN Peacekeeping Missions. Located at of the United Nations, and has been a Member
the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and State since the moment of its ‘birth’ (in 1947).
the Middle East, Pakistan has had to navigate How does this historical heritage figure into
the geo-politics of the Cold War, respond to Pakistan’s perception of itself as a major
power asymmetry in South Asia and manage regional power within the Muslim world?
one of the largest inflow of refugees. The quest Pakistan’s independence in 1947 coincided
for peace and security has therefore been a with formative years of the United Nations.
key foreign policy preoccupation. We are now It was also an era of freedom movements
striving to reorient towards geo-economics and decolonization struggles in Asia and
with a focus on regional peace, connectivity, Africa. Pakistan contributed not only in
sustainable development, tourism and the consolidation of the UN normative and
partnerships. institutional architecture but also spearheaded
the intergovernmental processes within the
The UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites has UN on decolonization that witnessed the UN
quite a few places in your country. Is there one membership rise threefold within two decades.
in particular close to your heart. If so, why? Most of these newly independent countries
Indeed, Pakistan may be a young country in like Pakistan were Muslim by demography.
terms of political history but has a rich ancient So our active engagement with the United
past starting from the Neolithic period. There Nations as well as the Organization of Islamic
are six World Heritage Sites spread across Cooperation (OIC) figures prominently in
Pakistan, ranging from the ancient city of Pakistan’s foreign policy outlook and priorities.
Mohenjodaro (2000 BC) and Necropolis in We do not see this engagement in the context
Makli, Sindh province, a historic Fort and of power dynamics or power projection
Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Punjab province but as a cooperative framework to promote
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