Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Explained

Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi
Birth Name:Mian Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Qureshi
Spouse:Asia Afrasiab
Occupation:Diplomat, author
Term Start:October 2011
Term End:October 2014
Predecessor:Ashraf Qureshi[1]
Successor:Shuja Alam[2]
Term Start2:June 2016
Term End2:October 2017
Predecessor2:Zehra Akbari[3]
Successor2:Abdul Malik[4]
President2:Mamnoon Hussain
Primeminister2:Nawaz Sharif
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|افراسیاب مہدی ہاشمی) is a Pakistani diplomat and author. He served as Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh from 2011 to 2014, and as High Commissioner to New Zealand from 2016 to 2017.

Personal life

Hashmi was born in Muzaffargarh District,[5] near Multan in southern Punjab and received his education from the Government College in Lahore.[6] He is married to Asia Afrasiab.[7]

Diplomatic career

Hashmi joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1984.[8] During his early years, he was posted at the Pakistani mission to the United Nations in New York; at Pakistan's embassy in Washington, D.C. from 1987 to 1991 as third secretary; at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi from 1994 to 1997 as first secretary; and at the Pakistani embassy in Vienna from 1997 to 2000 as first secretary,[9] where he was also his country's Alternative Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).[8] From 2003 to 2006, he was a minister at the Pakistani embassy in Beijing and from 2006 to 2009, he served as Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner to India.[8] [10] He also worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad as director for the Americas region, director-general for South Asia where he specialised on Indian affairs,[11] [12] and as staff officer for the Secretary-General of Foreign Affairs.[8]

As a diplomat, Hashmi is known for his "razor sharp memory" and his knack for predicting future events.[13] [14] He is also reportedly famed for his uncanny ability to read faces and predict what people are thinking.[13] [14] Due to this ability, he was part of a Pakistani delegation sent to New Delhi in February 2010 to hold Foreign Secretary-level talks. He was additionally sent by the Foreign Office to receive India's foreign secretary Nirupama Rao in Pakistan during her visit in June, in an attempt to find out what was on her mind.[14]

High Commissioner

From 18 October 2011[15] to mid-October 2014,[16] Hashmi served as Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, with concurrent accreditation to Bhutan.[8] As high commissioner, he engaged with the Bangladeshi leadership and advocated greater people-to-people ties between the two countries to improve relations, while the Bangladeshi side called for resolving all outstanding issues from the past including a "formal apology" for 1971 to "enable the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan to make a great leap forward and create a wider space for cooperation".[17] [18] [19] [9] During his tenure in late 2013, diplomatic relations became strained when Bangladesh moved to convict and execute Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla on allegations of war crimes, a decision which was roundly condemned by Pakistan as "judicial murder".[20] [21] [22] From October 2014 to April 2016, he took over as the Additional Foreign Secretary for Asia-Pacific in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[8] [23]

Later in 2016, Hashmi was appointed as Pakistan's High Commissioner to New Zealand, with concurrent diplomatic accreditation to Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati.[8] [24] He assumed charge of the mission on 29 April 2016,[8] [25] however presented his credentials on 1 June 2016 at Wellington's Government House[26] and held the post until October 2017.[4] He discharged various diplomatic duties while in office,[27] [28] [29] and also played a key role in strengthening Pakistan's relations with Samoa, as one of his country's first envoys to the island nation.[7] [30] [31] In early 2017, he was considered as one of the nominees for the post of High Commissioner to India.[32]

Works

Books written by Hashmi include:[8] [33]

Ancient and Contemporary Pakistan is a 900-page book covering the history of Pakistan. According to Hashmi, it was compiled over a period of 15 years.[34]

1971 Fact and Fiction

In his book 1971 Fact and Fiction, Hashmi writes about the political events and circumstances surrounding the East Pakistan conflict of 1971.[9] [35] According to Hashmi, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had never originally intended for Bangladesh to secede; instead, he had leveraged it as a means to "raise the threshold" with Islamabad and acquiesce president Yahya Khan to agree to his demands – however, the situation reached a "point of no return."[9] He also writes that former president Ayub Khan and prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto both knew as far back as 1966 that "it was not really possible for East Pakistan to remain part of Pakistan for long".[9] After the war ended, Chinese premier Zhou Enlai reportedly said to Bhutto: "Do not worry... take a long-term view, who knows what is going to happen in the subcontinent 50 years from now, 70 years from now, 100 years from now!".[9] [35] After Pakistan recognised Bangladesh and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited Lahore in 1974 to attend the Second Islamic Summit, Bhutto and Mujib had an exchange wherein the former remarked "You are helpless! You cannot take any decision without the approval of Indira Gandhi!" and the latter said "Bhutto sahib, do not insult me... you know too well, whatever happened was because of you!".[9] [35]

Hashmi notes that many of the main characters involved in the 1971 debacle had tragic fates, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman himself on 15 August 1975, the four key Awami League leaders killed in Dhaka Central Jail in November 1975, Bangladeshi general Ziaur Rahman, as well as prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.[9] He adds that president Yahya and general A. A. K. Niazi left unsung legacies, while Indian generals Shabeg Singh and Arun Shridhar Vaidya were killed as a result of the domestic fallout of Operation Blue Star, and Kuldip Singh Brar survived several assassination attempts on his own life.[9]

Hashmi opines that as a result of the creation of Bangladesh, India has to deal with Muslim-majority Pakistan and Bangladesh on both its western and eastern sides respectively.[9] [35]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Pakistan not interfering. 7 April 2010. 8 October 2020. The Daily Star. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008050556/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-133296. 8 October 2020. live.
  2. News: Newly appointed Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh. The Daily Observer. 23 March 2015. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20150729003953/http://www.observerbd.com/2015/03/23/79516.php. 29 July 2015. live.
  3. Web site: Press Release. 27 August 2015. 8 October 2020. High Commission of Pakistan, Wellington. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807084846/https://www.pakistanhc.org.nz/post/press-release-3. 7 August 2020. live.
  4. News: New face of Pakistan in Samoa. Samoa Observer. 5 March 2019. 8 October 2020. Adel. Fruean. https://web.archive.org/web/20200917153014/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/37990. 17 September 2020. live.
  5. Web site: Afrasiab. U.S. Library of Congress. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008050936/https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2002058259.html. 8 October 2020. live.
  6. News: Politics, favouritism alleged in envoys' selection. 25 January 2011. 8 October 2020. Dawn. Director General (South Asia) Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi (posted to Dhaka), Maalik Abdullah (the new high commissioner in Canberra) and Muhammad Aslam (Algiers) are the other officers moving out from the headquarters. Mr Hashmi hails from Multan.... https://web.archive.org/web/20201008051058/https://www.dawn.com/news/601528/politics-favouritism-alleged-in-envoys-selection. 8 October 2020. live.
  7. News: Samoa and Pakistan strengthen relations. Samoa Observer. 19 October 2016. 8 October 2020. Sarafina. Sanerivi. https://web.archive.org/web/20200917154043/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/36693. 17 September 2020. live.
  8. Web site: Curriculum vitae of H.E. Mian Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Qureshi. High Commission of Pakistan, Wellington. 8 October 2020. 14 June 2016. https://archive.today/20201006045639/https://www.pakistanhc.org.nz/post/curriculum-vitae-of-h-e-mian-afrasiab-mehdi-hashmi-qureshi. live. 6 October 2020.
  9. Web site: What happened to those who broke up Pakistan in 1971?. Global Village Space. 4 December 2019. 8 October 2020. Afrasiab Mehdi. Hashmi. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804084121/https://www.globalvillagespace.com/what-happened-to-those-who-broke-up-pakistan-in-1971/. live. 4 August 2020.
  10. News: Add pressure on Pakistan: India. 24 December 2008. 8 October 2020. Taipei Times. 6. Foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said Pakistan’s acting High Commissioner Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi was summoned to the ministry.... https://web.archive.org/web/20180629185058/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/12/24/2003431910. 29 June 2018. live.
  11. News: Pakistan seeks update on Samjhauta bombing probe. 10 January 2011. 8 October 2020. NDTV. India’s acting Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan GV Srinivas was called to the Foreign Office by Director-General (South Asia) Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi, who said information on the progress of investigation should be provided to Islamabad by New Delhi "at the earliest".. https://web.archive.org/web/20190820100301/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pakistan-seeks-update-on-samjhauta-bombing-probe-444613. 20 August 2019. live.
  12. News: Pakistan hands over 13th dossier on Mumbai attacks to India. DNA India. 6 November 2010. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008051443/https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-pakistan-hands-over-13th-dossier-on-mumbai-attacks-to-india-1462959. 8 October 2020. live.
  13. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20100502030111/https://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=225933. 2 May 2010. Pakistan delegation has a face reader to help. Umar. Cheema. Umar Cheema. The News International. 8 October 2020. 24 February 2010.
  14. News: Pak Foreign Office sends 'face reader' to receive Rao. Zee News. 23 June 2010. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008051626/https://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/pak-foreign-office-sends-face-reader-to-receive-rao_636080.html. 8 October 2020. live.
  15. News: Pak envoy presents credentials. BD News 24. 18 October 2011. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201006154817/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2011/10/18/pak-envoy-presents-credentials. 6 October 2020. live.
  16. News: Outgoing Pak envoy meets Khaleda Sunday. Bangla News 24. 8 October 2020. 11 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008051809/https://www.banglanews24.com/english/politics/news/bd/29714.details. 8 October 2020. live.
  17. News: Bangladesh asks Pakistan to apologise for 1971 atrocities. Firstpost. 21 November 2011. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20111122163841/http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/bangladesh-asks-pakistan-to-apologise-for-1971-atrocities-136145.html. 22 November 2011. live.
  18. News: Khaleda meets Pak envoy. BD News 24. 8 October 2020. 8 July 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130712024628/http://bdnews24.com/politics/2013/07/08/khaleda-meets-pak-envoy. 12 July 2013. live.
  19. News: Pakistan High Commissioner Meets PM. The Daily Star. 8 October 2020. 5 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008052059/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-217013?amp. 8 October 2020. live.
  20. News: Bangladesh summons Pakistan High commissioner over NA resolution. The Express Tribune. 17 December 2013. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20181024020809/https://tribune.com.pk/story/646780/bangladesh-summons-pakistan-high-commissioner-over-na-resolution/. 24 October 2018. live.
  21. News: Pakistan-Bangladesh relationship strained. Al Jazeera. 8 October 2020. 22 December 2013. Syed Tashfin. Chowdhury. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008052325/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2013/12/22/pakistan-bangladesh-relationship-strained/. 8 October 2020. live.
  22. News: Expel Pak envoy from Dhaka. BD News 24. 18 December 2013. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20140219031243/http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/12/18/expel-pak-envoy-from-dhaka. 19 February 2014. live.
  23. Web site: Ambassador of Thailand to Pakistan called on H.E. Mr. Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi, Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand). 8 October 2020. 12 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008052525/http://m.mfa.go.th/main/en/media-center/30/52757-Ambassador-of-Thailand-to-Pakistan-called-on-H.E..html. 8 October 2020. live.
  24. News: Mamnoon for expanding ties with New Zealand. 14 January 2016. 8 October 2020. The News International. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008052841/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/90230-Mamnoon-for-expanding-ties-with-New-Zealandutm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%3A+TheNewsInternational-National+. 8 October 2020. live.
  25. Web site: H.E. Mian Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi, High Commissioner of Pakistan. High Commission of Pakistan, Wellington. 4 May 2016. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807092729/https://www.pakistanhc.org.nz/post/h-e-mian-afrasiab-mehdi-hashmi-high-commissioner-of-pakistan. 7 August 2020. live.
  26. Web site: Credentials Ceremony 1 June 2016. Governor-General of New Zealand. 8 October 2020. 1 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180211053206/https://gg.govt.nz/image-galleries/credentials-ceremony-1-june-2016. 11 February 2018. live.
  27. Web site: Pakistani diplomats visit Manawatu campus. Massey University. 8 October 2020. 25 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008053519/https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=74450756-B479-DEE9-A32C-34FF5F7F3F4C. 8 October 2020. live.
  28. News: PCB in contact with men's and women's team following strong NZ earthquake. Geo News. 14 November 2016. 8 October 2020. Faizan. Lakhani. https://web.archive.org/web/20161115145151/https://www.geo.tv/latest/120541-PCB-in-contact-with-mens-and-womens-team-following-strong-NZ-earthquake. 15 November 2016. live.
  29. Web site: 23 March 2017 National Day Events. High Commission of Pakistan, Wellington. 8 October 2020. 8 April 2017.
  30. News: Samoa, Pakistan To Improve Diplomatic Ties. Pacific Islands Report. 20 October 2016. 8 October 2020. Enender. Kaiono. https://web.archive.org/web/20161022164216/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2016/10/20/samoa-pakistan-improve-diplomatic-ties. 22 October 2016. live.
  31. News: A first for Samoa and Pakistan. Samoa Observer. 21 October 2016. 8 October 2020. Vatapuia. Maiava. https://web.archive.org/web/20200917153449/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/article/37429. 17 September 2020. live.
  32. News: Abdul Basit to be replaced as Pak envoy to India as part of wider reshuffle. 18 February 2017. 8 October 2020. Hindustan Times. Rezaul Hasan. Laskar. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217061007/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/abdul-basit-to-be-replaced-as-pakistani-envoy-to-india-as-part-of-wider-reshuffle/story-Y9eHKcMY8icFiLhSTE2lIK.html. 17 February 2017. live.
  33. Web site: Afrasiab. WorldCat. 2020. 8 October 2020.
  34. News: Building understanding through books. Samoa Observer. Vatapuia. Maiava. 22 October 2016. 8 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200917173853/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/article/1029. 17 September 2020. live.
  35. Book: Hashmi, Afrasiab Mehdi. 1971 Fact and Fiction: Views and Perceptions in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. 2016. Khursheed Printers Pvt. Limited. 978-969-9837-03-6.

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