Page 19 - Pakistan Link - January 20, 2023

COMMENTRY PAKISTAN LINK - JANUARY 20, 2023 - P19

evangelists. Dreams are words, Memories of a Noble Diplomat skill of diplomats like Ambassador
How could I make peace with killers Dreams are lights, Khan and General Raza before him to
When my conscience never forgave They are Socrates
Cain? And Mansoor. n By C. Naseer Ahmad
I am an ordinary poet but with your Washington, DC
grace I am Alive
I enjoy respect better than men of I am still alive ourageous diplomats don’t
pomp. You pelted stones at me, often get appreciated in life,
Entombed me, C and sometimes never. This is
The Same Uncertainty of the heart Had me stung by snakes because diplomacy by nature is not
Since I was set to depart from your city Crucified, conducted through
Why then cast a longing glance at its Poisoned, attention-grabbing
walls? Burned, emotional outbursts
The moon was at the threshold of the Yet, I am alive, eternal or bluster; instead, it
darkened evening Like the truth. requires painstaking
Even at that fine hour, what was your preparation, listen-
helpless traveler to do? My face, eyes, arms, ing, and communi-
The heart did ask to stay on, but how Lips cating one’s position cogently. Diplo- Ambassador Khan illuminates various aspects of the personalities of Ayub Khan, Yahya
could I? Are all alive mats are not known for banging their Khan, ZA Bhutto, and many other prominent figures with whom he interacted - Flickr
When I first stepped into the unknown I, the meteor of the night fists or shoes on conference tables
valleys Fell, broke and scattered and the countries they represent may Nehru is not a favorite personality in lay the foundations of the strong ties
The way memories from homeland im- Yet I go on dancing, shining never know the risks they take to de- Pakistan, this was an act of courage. that exist between the two countries
plored me to return, fend national interests. Nor would In later chapters, Ambassador Khan today. Not many would realize that
The very same feeling overcomes me My strength lies the world know the important role wrote about several times when he Beijing (then Peking) was a hardship
today; Neither in my hair, nor in my nails. they might have played in burying had a difference of opinion with the post; diplomats flew to Hong Kong
As if I would go through the same ago- I did not hide myself in the confines of animosities between nations. Pakistani presidents he was serving and took a long train ride to Beijing.
nies and pains. city walls Twenty-five years have passed under. Ambassador Khan recorded People all over the world these
As it, someone would call me again, Nor walked amidst the protective since the publication of “Memo- his dissenting opinion numerous days are accustomed to products pro-
“Come back” shadow of swords; ries and Reflections of a Pakistani times in the book. In each instance, duced cheaply in China. This would
My power and strength was Diplomat” by late Ambassador Sul- he wrote how he stated his position not have happened without the be-
You and I The word. tan Muhammed Khan. From the and made a sincere attempt to change hind-the-scenes diplomatic work by
Every day when the sun descends from From word, the heavenly fountain, first few sentences to the very last a policy or a course of action. Ambassador Khan and his team. Af-
the mountain I drank the elixir of life. page, the book emanates honesty, In none of the situations Am- terall, it was Ambassador Khan who
A long falling, anxious shadow Word — the beginning of the truth, forthrightness, and dignity that bassador Khan described did he cast drove Dr Henry Kissinger to the air-
Says to the wall, A talking flame of intuition, one found in Ambassador Khan in aspersions on those he did not agree port in his son’s car around 4am for
“Come with me,” God of all. person. Each page keeps the reader with. The following two examples are the secret trip to China, which un-
And the wall, drunk in its pride, absorbed wanting to know more in applicable in this context. On the eve leashed the series of events benefit-
Evasive of the bondage of accompani- Word and Order the succeeding page and the ones to of the ill-fated 1971 Indo-Pakistan ting humanity today.
ment Mad and carefree is the poet follow until the end. conflict which led to the creation of A Google search of the name
Would only smile at its old companion’s Alone, without a court or a shelter. From his book, Ambassador Bangladesh and in the last-ditch ef- Chou En-lai will likely produce some
desire. To create the word is his religion Khan comes across as an excellent fort to sway the Soviet Union towards photographs and a few hyperlinks.
Which wall has ever walked with its He shares everyone’s pain. storyteller, which for any diplomat is a neutral position, he embarked on a But a comprehensive picture of this
shadow? He tells the truth and suffers a necessity in order to advocate ef- diplomatic mission to Moscow. Writ- battle-hardened wise leader comes
And which one has forever stood in its And yet speaks the truth. fectively for the country being rep- ing about a tense dialogue with Prime only from reading Ambassador
place? The dictator has many lackeys resented. Ambassador Khan’s story Minister Alexei Kosygin, Ambas- Khan’s narration of the challenges
Time is a friend, neither to the wall The world is afraid of him. begins from Jaora, a princely state sador Khan gave a detailed account faced and the navigation through
Nor to the shadow. He carries the sword, and the flag and in India. Nobility was in his blood, – free from any prejudices - of what troubled waters of the destructive
And now under the rubble Of stones the horn being born to the brother of Nawab each person said. 1960s Cultural Revolution in China
and dust lies scattered, Dreams are his as are the interpreta- of Jaora. Ambassador Khan became Another example is a conten- while continuing the effort to build
The pride of that wall. tions. an orphan when his parents passed tious episode during Prime Minister Sino-Pak ties which became the im-
The sun shines, Yet he fears the poet away while he was a young boy. But Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s 1973 US visit. portant avenue for the reopening of
But who knows where the shadow is? And is killed by truthful words. caring relatives helped ensure that During this visit, one of the officials China to the modern world.
he received the best education they had an optimistic view about the re- The book clearly is the story of
Return Karbla - Beirut could afford. sumption of arms supplies and food the life of a dedicated public servant
“Listen,” My children’s bodies Ambassador Khan possessed an aid while Ambassador Khan was not. who gave every ounce of his energy
She said, “Don’t come back merely to Have attires of wounds. enormous capacity to listen, which is “I’ll be the happiest man if my as- in the service of his country. It is the
keep the word. Empty laps of mothers are important not just in diplomatic ne- sessment is proved wrong because a story of a man who found opportuni-
Such people often return, Graves without epitaphs. gotiation but also in life. As a reader positive American response will be in ties where ordinary people only saw
As they become tired of The young ones we used to have you will learn about this when he de- the interest of Pakistan, but Mr Prime obstacles. In pursuing the opportu-
Being helpless Are killed every day. scribed his army days. You will also Minister do not count on that too nities, Ambassador Khan saw doors
And lonely in separation. The flowers of my garden learn that he could think for himself much,” said Ambassador Khan with- open and previously unfamiliar peo-
You go ahead, Are diminished every moment. when he decided against becoming a out a whiff of anger or resentment. ple open their homes and give him
Quench your thirst at every river. Bloodied are the streets and paths. princeling and continued the path of In his book, Ambassador Khan a place in their hearts. In short, the
My anguish would not protest; Puddles of blood in every house-yard, becoming an army officer. illuminated various aspects of the book reveals an extraordinary noble
No matter what eyes you allure, Doors and thresholds strewn with bodies, Judgement is essential is effec- personalities of Ayub Khan, Ya- life lived with dignity, pizazz and old
What heart you entice. Every corner now a shamble. tive diplomacy. Ambassador Khan hya Khan, Bhutto, and many other fashioned hard work.
But, Few living shadows and some tents was tested early in his army career prominent figures with whom he In writing this wonderful
When the flame Still survive; immediately after World War II interacted. They come across being book, Ambassador Khan has left
Of your yearnings for me A few flags and songs when as an officer he resisted reim- human with many likable qualities the world with an enduring gift. It
Flares up and intensifies; Remain after the storm. position of Dutch rule in Indonesia as well as weaknesses. There was a is for the curious reader hungry for
And your heart cries out, Merchants of oil fields, after the Japanese surrender. For common perception about Yahya knowledge and those in search for
Then You should return.” The generous ones are but happy; one, he would have faced mutiny Khan’s drunkenness in general but facts to discover the treasures hid-
In the haven of their palaces amongst his soldiers many of whom particularly during a celebratory den in plain sight. And those inter-
Dreams do not die The eunuchs are sitting pretty. were Muslims who were not eager trip to Iran in 1971. According to ested in pursuing a career in the art
Dreams do not die to restore colonial rule over fellow Ambassador Khan’s notes, Yahya of diplomacy might want to have
Dreams, unlike the heart, The Wind Whistles in the Wil- Muslims in Indonesia. Khan was in control of his mental this book by their bedside.
The eyes, the breath, derness is a valuable endeavor to Without the ability to tell unvar- faculties during the infamous 2,500 For the brief times I met Am-
Would not scatter, if shatter, share the beauty of Ahmed Faraz’s nished truth, no diplomat would be celebration of the Persian Empire. bassador Khan, it was at our mu-
Or wither away with death. poetic expressions with the global taken seriously. Chapter after chapter, In fact, there was a substantive dis- tual friend General Roland delMar’s
Dreams, audience. M.H.K. Qureshi has there are very interesting incidents cussion between Yahya Khan and farmhouse in rural Maryland on
They are the light, done a wonderful job of rendering covered, some revealing and some Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter
The melody and the breeze Ahmad Faraz’s poetry into English. dispelling rumors. Bhutto, on the other hand, comes Holidays. But those who had lasting
They could not be stopped by black Indeed, in growing uncertainties His first diplomatic assignment out as mean and petty, notwith- friendships with Ambassador Khan
mountains, and agonies of today’s post-pan- was in New Delhi during the height standing his sharp intellect and po- tell me that he “was a remarkable
Would not burn in the hell fire of per- demic world, Ahmad Faraz’s verses of communal violence. He wrote an litical vision. person and had all the qualities you
secution. are a very much needed remedy for eyewitness account of seeing Prime Few people will know how tenu- mentioned and more.” And today
These flags of light, sound and breeze pacifying the aggravations of hu- Minister Jawaharlal Nehru beating up ous Sino-Pak relations were during Ambassador Khan is missed more
Would not bow even in shambles. man behavior. looters one night. Considering that the 1950s and early 1960s. It took the than ever before.
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