Empty Ambassador Office of Pakistan Embassy in Kiev awaits new occupant
Kiev, Ukraine: Pakistan Embassy in Kiev is working without any Ambassador as Islamabad is waiting response approval (Known as Agreema in diplomatic language) from Ukraine for the posting of her new Ambassador while Maj. Gen (Retd) Wajahat Ali Muftee who was serving as Ambassador has already gone Islamabad back as his three-year tenure is technically completed.
It may be mentioned that Maj. General Abbas was nominated as new Ambassador to Ukraine in the first week of July 2015 as Maj. Gen (Red) Wajahat Ali Muftee was scheduled to finish his tenure by August 2015.
The last appointment of Maj. General (Retd) Athar Abbas was as Director General Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan Army. Currently he is working as political as well as Defece Analyst while appearing on electronic media of Pakistan and as a columnist. He was commissioned in Pakistan Army in October 1976 in the 54th PMA Long Course from the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul into the Armoured Corps. He has held various command, staff and instructional appointments that include command of an armoured regiment, armoured brigade and armoured division. He has been General Staff Officer (Operations) in various armoured formations. He is a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta and Armed Forces Staff College, Malaysia.
Maj. Gen (Red) Wajahat Ali Muftee who during his tenure in Kiev had been popular among academia and intelligentsia belonged to Infantry Division. He served as Brigade Major in an Infantry Brigade, Grade 1 Staff Officer Military Operations Directorate, Deputy Military Secretary in General Headquarters, Director General Military Lands and Cantonments in Ministry of Defence and he was awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military).
Pakistan’s ambassador to Ukraine has mostly been of the military background because of the defence cooperation between the two countries and because of Ukraine was known for used military hardware shopping mall. Eastern Ukraine had befitting military hardware industry before unrest started in Eastern regions. Now, Ukrainian engagement in war with Russian-backed separatists is compelling thin Ukrainian military to repair and use military hardware as the country is not receiving operational military hardware from any country so far.
The work for any new Pakistani Ambassador in Kiev will not be as easy as it was in past because Pakistan military and political leadership are tilting towards Russia and Pakistan is attending all Russian Military related events including Army 2015 exhibition, 2015 War Games and forthcoming Air show. Kiev is looking this new Pak-Russo strategic partnership very consciously. Diplomatic circles in Kiev believe that appointment of any former Pakistan Military General as new Ambassador for Kiev will be taken and dealt very carefully and work for new Ambassador will not be simple and easy in current phase of Ukraine-Pakistan relations.
There were reports circulating in Pakistan media that Major-General (retd) Athar Abbas will join as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to United Kingdom as the incumbent Pakistani High Commissioner to UK, Ibn-e-Abbas, will leave office in November this year. Report suggested that Major-General (retd) Athar Abbas will assume the new position after his departure. However Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah denied the media reports regarding appointment of Major-General (retd) Athar Abbas as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to United Kingdom.
