Former Pak envoy to US asked not to block IAEA's India-specific deal: official

Washington: A former Pakistani diplomat has accused the ex-ambassador to the US of sabotaging the country's efforts to block an India-specific safeguards agreement at the IAEA in 2008.

Pakistan's former Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Zameer Akram alleged that Husaain Haqqani had "leveraged pressure" on the Pakistani government to overrule the Foreign Office's recommendations for opposing the India agreement. "The Foreign Office was pressured to change its recommendations," Dawn quoted Akram as saying.

Akram said that Pakistan had even arranged support of friends, including China, for the move. But, before the board could meet Haqqani conveyed to Islamabad about the feared consequences of opposing the agreement.

The pressure worked and Pakistan agreed to not call for a vote or block passage of the India safeguards agreement in the August 1, 2008, IAEA board of governors' meeting.

Haqqani, who is currently with the Hudson Institute, a top American think-tank ? has denied the charges arguing that he had only communicated to Islamabad the views of the US Government and the final decision in this regard was taken by the then Pakistani government.

"I wish I had as much influence," Haqqani told PTI when asked about the news report.

"Then, Pakistan and all its neighbours would be better off with less conflict. As things stand, I was only Pakistan’s ambassador to the US and our ambassador to the US cannot single-handedly shape policy," Haqqani said.

"It is clear that some people do not want a discussion on foreign policy in Pakistan or on what is and is not realistic. They just want to find scapegoats and I am a convenient one. In my opinion Pakistan should focus more on what it can get for its people and less on what we can block for someone else," he said.

Haqqani claimed the decision to not waste time trying to block the agreement in IAEA was taken by the Pakistan government in Islamabad, not the Pakistan embassy he headed at that time in Washington DC.

"Mr Akram should know that an ambassador conducts policy made in the capital and notwithstanding what advice he gives to his government, is bound by decisions of his principals," Haqqani said.

Prior to serving as Ambassador to the United States, Haqqani held several positions including as an adviser to three former Pakistani prime ministers and as envoy to Sri Lanka.