Pakistan envoys from select world capitals are brainstorming on a range of regional and global dimensions of the country's foreign policy for the second day of the envoys conference but the country's High Commissioner to London is not participating in the three-day conference that opened on Tuesday.
Syed Ibne Abbas, the High Commissioner in London, according to the sources was also not called during last year's conference Envoys Conference. However speculation is rife in the federal capital that this time around Abbas was not summoned as he is engaged in providing support to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is currently in London.
Sources revealed to this correspondent that Ibne Abbas, is close to Nawaz Sharif and may have been asked to remain in London. Abbas was appointed to his current position by the former premier in July 2014 and is the first career diplomat to be given this important diplomatic assignment in the last 15 years. The position was previously held by political appointees.
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria was not available for comment when Business Recorder inquired as to the reason for Pakistan's High Commissioner in London not attending the important conference. The conference is being attended by Pakistan's envoys in the US, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iran, India, UAE, Bahrain, Belgium and European Union.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif who addressed the inaugural session of the conference on Tuesday also chaired the second day's session. The sources said that Pakistan's Permanent Representative to United Nations in New York Dr Maleeha Lodhi addressed the conference via a video link who updated the participants about the upcoming events on the eve of UN General Assembly Session and Pakistan's strategy to present its perspective on important regional and international issues.
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take stock of the emerging geo-political development in the region and beyond, the participants would formulate recommendations with regard to Pakistan's approach towards different regional and international issues.
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