Pakistan embassy in US removes portrait of former top envoy Husain Haqqani
WASHINGTON: In an unusual move, the Pakistani embassy in the US has reportedly removed the portrait of its former top envoy Husain Haqqani who has been critical of Pakistan's military and political leadership.
Haqqani was Pakistan's Ambassador to the US from May 27, 2008, to November 22, 2011, which is considered as one of the most tumultuous periods of the US-Pakistan relationship. The 61-year-old diplomat has been critical of Pakistan's military and political leadership.
The report of removal of his portrait from the Pakistani embassy here first appeared in Pakistani media and soon caught the attention of social media. However, the Pakistani embassy later clarified, saying Haqqani's photograph incidentally fell down during an event last evening which has now been placed back. In an email, the Pakistani embassy said that there was an event held inside its premises Wednesday."
The food tables were placed in the hall by the staff against the wall, carrying photographs of the former Ambassadors. During the process of arranging tables, the photograph of the former Ambassador Husain Haqqani incidentally fell down," Zoobia Masood, press attache of the Embassy, told PTI.
"As soon as it was noticed, the photograph was placed back on the wall last evening," Masood said. Haqqani now heads the South and Central Asia division of Hudson Institute, a top American think-tank.
Early this year, Haqqani along with Lisa Curtis of 'The Heritage Foundation', another top American think-tank, had co-authored a report on Afghanistan and Pakistan. A few months later, recommendations of this report became the basis of the new Afghanistan and South Asia policy of the Trump administration.
Curtis now heads the South Asia division of the White House's National Security Council. Soon after Trump announced his Afghanistan and South Asia policy, in which he sought more accountability from Pakistan, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif accused Haqqani of being behind the tough American policy against Pakistan.
Author of several books including 'Pakistan Between Mosque & Military' and 'Magnificent Delusions', Haqqani has been a harsh critic of some of the policies of Pakistani Army, in particular, use of terror groups and support to religious fundamentalists.