ISLAMABAD: In an unusual public rebuke over "a failed diplomacy" on Kashmir issue, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Saturday openly accused the Foreign Office and other state institutions of letting down Prime Minister Imran Khan and Kashmiris in their struggle for Kashmir cause.

Speaking at a function here, Mazari known for her bold statements and remarks, said that the "prime minister's single-handed efforts had completely changed the world narrative on Kashmir globally, but the "Foreign Office and other institutions, through a failed diplomacy, not only let him down but [have] also destroyed the struggle made by the people of Kashmir".

She continued that if the Foreign Office had proceeded with the narrative of the prime minister on Kashmir, things would have been completely different as far as the issue of Kashmir was concerned.

"Forget about the world politics, if the Foreign Office had proceeded with the narrative of the prime minister, the world would have certainly listened to us on Kashmir issue," Mazari maintained.

As a result of the Foreign Office's "amateurish" diplomatic manoeuvre, Mazari questioned how a country such as Burkina Faso - a landlocked country in West Africa - had more diplomatic clout than Pakistan, as it managed to get a resolution passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council against police brutality in the US in the wake of protests against George Floyd's murder. She categorically said that there was a dire need to bring about a drastic change regarding diplomacy on Kashmir issue, saying the diplomacy on Kashmir was a complete failure due to incompetent baboos.

Mazari lambasted the Foreign Office "baboos", serving as ambassadors in different parts of the world, saying "their [FO baboos] sole focus is leisurely hotel stays, dressing in three-piece suits and heavily-starched clothes and speaking over the telephone and that is it."

Mazari said we have to move away from traditional diplomacy and for that we need to adopt modern methods.

Indian occupation forces are using the debasement of women as a political tool, she said, adding our response to needs a major revamp, if our voice against such atrocities is to go to the far reaches of the world.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020