Despite killing Osama bin Laden, and other hawkish exploits, President Obama remains vulnerable to Republican assertions of foreign policy weakness. Another major military success could revive Obama’s flagging poll numbers. Until recently, most analysts thought a US-Israeli attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities may serve this purpose. But the Iranians will react strongly, directly and asymmetrically to such an attack. After the events of 2011, American strategists may see Pakistan as a far ‘softer’ target. It is uncertain if either the US or Pakistan has fully thought through the potential consequences of their possible military confrontation. Whatever its weaknesses, Pakistan will be compelled by national sentiment to respond to another US attack or intervention across its borders. A limited ‘engagement’ could escalate rapidly into wide-ranging hostilities. If, during such a crisis, Pakistan’s strategic command believes that the US military strike is aimed to capture or destroy its nuclear and delivery capabilities, it may feel compelled to use rather than lose these capabilities. To avoid such a miscalculation, Pakistan’s new nuclear deterrence doctrine, aimed to deter aggression from not only India but also from other sources, needs to be clearly and publicly spelt out. The apocalyptic danger of a military conflict between two (albeit unequal) nuclear powers should be addressed urgently by the international community. The US-Nato should accept the measures Pakistan has proposed to avoid another shooting exchange. The US cannot continue to claim the right to strike at will within Pakistan’s territory without Pakistan’s concurrence. REFERENCE: Shame in Chicago From the Newspaper | Munir Akram | 27th May, 2012 http://dawn.com/2012/05/27/shame-in-chicago/
Reference: Monday 03/03/2003 Ambassador to the United Nations for Pakistan Munir Akram examines the arrest of a key Al Qaeda operative in Pakistan. https://charlierose.com/videos/13921
WAY BACK IN 2003: The United States has given Pakistan until Friday to decide whether it will waive the diplomatic immunity of its U.N. ambassador, Munir Akram, so that he can be prosecuted on domestic violence charges. Reached by phone at his residence, where he was spending the day, Akram declined to comment, saying, "My government is handling this. I prefer to leave it at that." The charges stem from an early morning incident on December 10 in which Marijana Mihic, 35, told police that she and Akram had argued in an apartment, and he had tried to prevent her from leaving. She described herself as Akram's girlfriend. Police said Mihic had a bruise on her head and minor abrasions on her knees. Because of the ambassador's diplomatic status, police were unable to arrest Akram. A spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney said if diplomatic immunity were lifted, "We would be prepared to arrest" the ambassador. Meanwhile, the Pakistani mission is trying to downplay the incident, calling it a "momentary misunderstanding." "No charges were filed, and no charges have been filed," said Mansoor Suhail, a spokesman for Akram. "The ambassador as well as his friend both strongly believe there is no basis for any legal action. The whole thing is being blown out of proportion. It was a telephone call and as soon as the police arrived, she said, 'Sorry, I don't want to file charges.'" The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said it is conducting an inquiry into the incident. REFERENCE: Pakistan ambassador in assault row January 08, 2003|CNN U.N. Producer Liz Neisloss and Producer Ronni Berke http://articles.cnn.com/2003-01-08/world/pakistan.ambassador_1_pakistan-ambassador-diplomatic-immunity-charges?_s=PM:asiapcf
Munir Akram on India-Pakistan Relations
2009: ISLAMABAD: The government has finally admitted that Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the November attacks in Mumbai, is a Pakistani national. The Foreign Office spokesman, who is currently in Kabul said, “According to our preliminary investigations, Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistani national. Our investigations are continuing.” Coming on the heels of this admission, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked his National Security Adviser Major General (retd) Mehmud Ali Durrani for giving a statement on Ajmal Kasab without taking him into confidence. Before the formal announcement, Prime Minister Gilani told Geo News on telephone that Durrani had given a statement to an Indian news channel regarding Ajmal Kasab without taking him into confidence. The prime minister said that Durrani’s statement had tarnished the country’s image. “So I decided to sack him,” he told Geo News. Earlier, the Foreign Office was reluctant to confirm the report with even Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir denying Kasab’s nationality in an interview to an Indian TV channel. His ministry was only willing to do so after other senior officials and ministers from other ministries came out in the open and confirmed Kasab’s nationality when asked by the foreign news agencies. Confusion reigned supreme in Pakistan on Wednesday evening with several official voices speaking at the same time, but ensuring that they were not on the same page regarding the nationality of Ajmal Kasab. These officials proved to the world that they were strangers to ‘coordination’, and nobody knew who was in charge. As far as Kasab’s nationality is concerned it was the Ministry of Information that had the final word in interaction with AP and Reuters where Information Minister Sherry Rehman confirmed that Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani national. Later, state-run television carried the version of the minister. In the end the Foreign Office was left with no choice but to agree. What has emerged very clearly is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was very much out of the loop on Wednesday and decisions and announcements were made elsewhere with a clueless and embarrassed Foreign Office shaking its head in disbelief. “I really do not know what is happening and this is certainly a very sad state of affairs. I myself am confused. We are trying to get through to the spokesman who is in Kabul,” one frustrated official at the Foreign Office told The News. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wanted to have the final say when the National Security Adviser, Maj Gen (retd) Mehmood Durrani, was quoted as saying that Ajmal Kasab was very much a Pakistani citizen while the Foreign Office rebutted this and sent out a one liner from Kabul saying, “investigations to determine the nationality of Ajamal Kasab are still in progress, it is still premature to say anything in this regard — and the information given to us by India is being ‘seriously’ examined.” The Foreign Office spokesman, who is ambassador-designate to Afghanistan, is still in Kabul and in his absence the national security adviser, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Information Minister Sherry Rehman talked to the foreign media, including India. This is something Durrani and Bashir are reluctant to do where the Pakistani media is concerned. Durrani was quoted by the Indian media as saying that the identity of Kasab had been established and he was a Pakistani while Bashir was at pains to tell the Indian media that investigations were still continuing. This led to a media circus where reports were being updated every hour, something not seen before in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whose statements are taken as the Gospel truth. Earlier, a few weeks ago, the spokesman had stated that they were still examining the letter written to them allegedly by Kasab and they would soon issue a statement regarding the decision that the government would take. The spokesman had issued a statement early in the afternoon and referred to different reports that had appeared, and said that the information received from India is being ‘seriously’ examined. “Pakistan remains fully determined in its investigations to uncover full facts pertaining to the Mumbai incident and is cognizant of the need for establishing legally tenable evidence.” “Pakistan regrets the propaganda campaign unleashed by India to malign the country. Blame game and political point scoring is counterproductive and unacceptable. “Terrorism is a pernicious problem afflicting South Asia. Pragmatic and responsible approach, including cooperation between the relevant investigation departments, is the imperative need of the hour to deal with the Mumbai terrorist attacks and to prevent any such incident in India, Pakistan or elsewhere.” The morning papers had quoted ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha as saying, “We may be crazy in Pakistan but not completely out of our minds”. The different ministries in Pakistan should rephrase this to say, “We are all crazy in Pakistan and completely out of our minds.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would certainly agree. REFERENCE: National security adviser sacked Mariana Baabar Thursday, January 08, 2009 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=19476&Cat=13&dt=1/8/2009
2003: ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, is likely to be recalled due to charges of domestic violence against him that were reported in the US media on Wednesday. A decision in this regard is expected soon, Dawn learnt through well-placed government sources on Thursday. “Even if it was largely a weak case, Pakistan government will not let an individual, no matter how competent, hamper Pakistan’s presence at the United Nations,” said a senior government official, adding: “This is likely to be, even if tragic, an open-and-shut case.” Talking to officials at the ministry of foreign affairs and other relevant government agencies it transpired that Islamabad does not want to allow a simple, unfortunate case acquire a propaganda proportion in an already difficult, if not hostile, diplomatic milieu. “Anything potentially embarrassing for the government will be nipped in the bud,” was the view of a former diplomat. While most of the senior officials contacted by Dawn on Thursday remained tightlipped on the fate of Pakistan’s UN representative, they reckoned the gravity of the matter. Maintaining that there was a strong possibility of Munir Akram being recalled from his present post, one official said: “It is not just a question of right or wrong, but there is also a very strong operational aspect to the whole incident.” “He (Munir Akram) is a fighter and media intrusion will not affect him one bit,” argued one officer at the foreign office who has worked with Akram for almost a decade. “Given Munir Akram’s tremendous contribution to the country one hopes that he will be allowed to continue in his present position as an effective representative of Pakistan at the United Nations,” he added. When asked if Pakistan had responded to the US State Department’s request for waiver of diplomatic immunity of Pakistan’s envoy, a senior official said it was a very serious matter, indicating that Islamabad would not allow that. REFERENCE: Pakistan may recall Munir By Our Staff Reporter January 10, 2003 Friday Ziqa’ad 6, 1423 http://archives.dawn.com/2003/01/10/top12.htm
Charlie Rose - A conversation about Indian-Pakistani relations with Munir Akram
Culture Center - Ambassador Munir Akram - 1
The Real History and Facts which Munir Akram criminally ignored rather hide: Taliban are Pak Army proxies, not Pashtun nationalists - I By Farhat Taj March 30 - April 05, 2012 - Vol. XXIV, No. 07 http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta2/tft/article.php?issue=20120330&page=8 Taliban are Pak Army proxies, not Pashtun nationalists - II By Farhat Taj April 06-12, 2012 - Vol. XXIV, No. 08 http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta2/tft/article.php?issue=20120406&page=6 Taliban are Pak Army proxies, not Pashtun nationalists - III By Farhat Taj April 20-26, 2012 - Vol. XXIV, No. 10 http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta3/tft/article.php?issue=20120420&page=6 Taliban are Pak Army proxies, not Pashtun nationalists - IV By Farhat Taj April 27 - May 03, 2012 - Vol. XXIV, No. 11 http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta3/tft/article.php?issue=20120427&page=6 Taliban are Pak Army proxies, not Pashtun nationalists - V By Farhat Taj May 04-10, 2012 - Vol. XXIV, No. 12 http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta3/tft/article.php?issue=20120504&page=4 Taliban are Pak Army proxies, not Pashtun nationalists – by Farhat Taj http://pakistanblogzine.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/taliban-are-pak-army-proxies-not-pashtun-nationalists-by-farhat-taj/
2003: NEW YORK, Jan 8: The US State Department has asked Pakistan to withdraw diplomatic immunity of its Ambassador Munir Akram at the world body following a request by the New York City’s prosecutors office. The City’s prosecutors want to investigate a month-old assault charges filed against him by a woman friend, who has since recanted her story. Marijana Mihic, 35, has withdrawn the charges and met the New York City’s district attorney’s officials pleading that the case not be pursued. The New York Times in a report on Wednesday acknowledged that the legal dispute came at a bad time for the ambassador. On Jan 1, Pakistan took a seat on the 15-nation Security Council for a two-year term, just when the Council would be weighing whether to authorize war on Iraq. A spokesman for the Pakistan Mission expressed surprise that the paper like the New York Times had decided to run the report when no charges had been filed. “The ambassador and his friend both strongly believe that there is no basis for any legal action in this matter,” said Spokesman Mansoor Suhail. “And they have both communicated that belief to the concerned authorities.” The spokesman noted that a “trivial matter has been blown up into an issue” when both parties had communicated that belief to the authorities. A spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs said that the ministry was investigating the incident “which appears to have been based on some misunderstanding”. On completion of this process, further appropriate action would be taken, he added. Diplomats here speculate that Mr Akram, who is known to take tough, principled positions on issues without fear, could be undermined with reports about his personal life. Mr Akram refused to make any comments on the reports on the advice of his lawyers. However, he expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved “fairly”. AFP adds: The New York Times and The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the US request stemmed from a Dec 10 incident in which the New York police were called to Mr Akram’s home by a woman who alleged the envoy had beaten her. The woman told the police that Mr Akram had smashed her head into a wall, that her arm hurt and that he had hit her before, according to the newspaper accounts. REFERENCE: Pakistan asked to withdraw immunity of its UN envoy By Masood Haider January 9, 2003 Thursday Ziqa’ad 5, 1423 http://archives.dawn.com/2003/01/09/top10.htm
Culture Center - Ambassador Munir Akram - 2
2003 WASHINGTON, Jan 9: The State Department said on Wednesday it wanted the US legal system to complete its procedure in the complaint against Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, although the complainant was not pressing charges against him. When spokesman Richard Boucher told a briefing that the department had asked Pakistan to waive the diplomatic immunity of its ambassador, a reporter asked him why the US government was insisting on trying the ambassador when the complainant was not interested. Mr Boucher said the request to seek revocation of diplomatic immunity came from the New York police department, based on legal grounds “on what happens legally in terms of the allegations and possible legal proceedings”. “Our job is to try to get the other government to waive immunity so that those procedures can take place. So any explanations of the legal aspects of this really need to come from the local authorities,” he said. So then is it the case that any time a law enforcement official comes to the State Department and asks you to get a government to waive diplomatic immunity, you take that at face value and ask that government to do so, the reporter asked. “We trust our legal system,” Mr Boucher replied. REFERENCE: US official faces tough questions By Our Correspondent January 10, 2003 Friday Ziqa’ad 6, 1423 http://archives.dawn.com/2003/01/10/top14.htm
Ambassador Munir Akram - 1 (Columbia University International Relations Forum)
2003 The State Department has asked Pakistan to withdraw the diplomatic immunity of its envoy here, Munir Akram, after New York City prosecutors sought to bring misdemeanor assault charges against him as a result of a quarrel with a woman, United States and New York City officials said today. Marjorie Tiven, the city commissioner in charge of United Nations issues, wrote to the United States Mission here on Dec. 26 requesting that the envoy's immunity be removed, according to Edward Skyler, the mayor's spokesman. Mr. Skyler said the Manhattan district attorney's office had advised city officials that it was prepared to prosecute if Mr. Akram's immunity was lifted. Pakistan has not yet informed the United States of any decision. The legal dispute comes at a bad time for the ambassador. On Jan. 1, Pakistan took a seat on the 15-nation Security Council for a two-year term, just when the Council will be weighing whether to authorize war on Iraq. On Dec. 10 at 1:36 a.m., the New York City police were summoned by an emergency 911 call to a residence at 47 East 92nd Street in Manhattan, police officials said. Marijana Mihic, 35, told the 911 operator that a man whom she identified as her husband had smashed her head into a wall and that her arm hurt, according to the police dispatcher's notes of the conversation. She said the man had hit her before. ''Female caller states husband has diplomatic immunity,'' the dispatcher noted. When police officers arrived, Ms. Mihic said that Mr. Akram was her ''boyfriend'' and that after an argument with him she had tried to leave. ''He prevented her from leaving, he grabbed her and she fell,'' said Lt. Brian Burke, a police spokesman. The police officers at the scene reported that Ms. Mihic had a bruise on her head, he said. Mr. Akram, who is 57, was at the residence when the police arrived and identified himself as an ambassador. ''There was nothing really that the officers could do,'' Lt. Burke said. United Nations envoys enjoy immunity from local criminal prosecution. A spokesman for the Pakistani Mission said today that Mr. Akram and his friend had reconciled. ''The ambassador and his friend both strongly believe that there is no basis for any legal action in this matter,'' said Mansoor Suhail, the spokesman. ''And they have both communicated that belief to the concerned authorities.'' Once the police officers arrived at the residence, Ms. Mihic seemed to become less alarmed, and she refused medical attention when an ambulance from the city's Emergency Medical Service went to the scene, city officials said. The district attorney's office advised Ms. Tiven that Mr. Akram could be prosecuted for a misdemeanor charge of third degree assault, a law enforcement official said. She wrote to Patrick F. Kennedy, a senior diplomat at the United States mission here, and the State Department lodged its request with Pakistan on Dec. 28. REFERENCE: U.S. Asks Pakistan to Lift U.N. Envoy's Immunity After a Violent Quarrel By JULIA PRESTON Published: January 08, 2003 http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/08/world/us-asks-pakistan-to-lift-un-envoy-s-immunity-after-a-violent-quarrel.html
Ambassador Munir Akram - 2 (Columbia University International Relations Forum)
Even at the best of times, he is known to be acerbic and pungent as they come, his anti-India vitriol alarming to the uninitiated. But last month, Pakistan's UN envoy, Munir Akram, directed his bile at his live-in girlfriend and in the process earned a big, black eye for his country. His dreadful conduct took the wind out of Pakistani sails as Islamabad began its tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council—and just as it was gearing to deliver some good rhetorical punches there on behalf of the world's Muslims. What could be more un-Islamic than a relationship outside wedlock which under Shariah is punishable by Taliban-style retribution? Akram's stars plunged precipitously as New York's tabloids screamed details of Pakistan's "diplo-basher" and "abuser". The US State Department asked Islamabad to withdraw his diplomatic immunity so he could face criminal prosecution as a common man. The Pakistani establishment didn't know what hit them, struggling, as they were, with other difficult aspects of their tortuous relationship with Uncle Sam—border shootings and bombs dropping from American planes. They didn't need a new complication from one of their own. The famed corridors of the United Nations were suddenly abuzz with talk of Akram's physical, not verbal, violence. In Indian diplomatic circles, Munir Akram is infamous for his rabid rhetoric against New Delhi. Kashmir or nukes, Akram's visceral anti-India tirades are legion. In fact, the Brothers Akram—Munir and Zamir (who was earlier posted in India)—are known for the poisonous missiles they launch regularly at India. Munir, as spokesman of his foreign office, once called Salman Khursheed "kirai ka Muslim". But first the facts. On the morning of December 10, Akram's girlfriend, Marijana Mihic (pronounced Mariana), called the emergency 911 number at 1.36 am, asking for help. She told the police dispatcher that a man, whom she identified as her husband, had smashed her head into a wall. She said that her arm also was hurting and that he was a repeat offender. The dispatcher noted, "female caller states husband has diplomatic immunity". When the NY police arrived, guns on the ready and red light flashing, at the posh address in the upper reaches of Manhattan, Mihic changed her story a bit and said that Akram, 22 years her senior, was her "boyfriend". She had tried to leave after a heated argument but he grabbed her and she fell. Police officers noticed a bruise on her head but she declined a visit to the hospital. Akram reluctantly identified himself to the police as Pakistan's UN ambassador. The police had no choice but to leave quietly in the face of the ultimate diplomatic perk—immunity from local laws. His press spokesman, Mansoor Suhail, told Outlook: "It was a minor incident blown out of proportion by some people. They continue to be friends. There would be no basis for a legal case when there is no complaint filed." Unfortunately for Akram, the American criminal justice system works a little differently. Even if a victim doesn't file a complaint, the system can. Manhattan district attorney Robert Morgenthau is prepared to press misdemeanour assault charges once the diplomatic immunity is lifted. After all, pushing the case is none other than Majorie Tiven, the city commissioner in charge of UN, and a member of the powerful and wealthy Bloomberg family. In fact, Tiven is New York mayor Michael Bloomberg's sister and a social worker by training. On December 26, she wrote to the US mission at the UN, asking that Akram's immunity be waived. The request was forwarded to Washington, and two days later the State Department sent the summons to Pakistan. Akram has never swum rougher seas. Suhail denied there was any deadline for Islamabad to lift Akram's immunity or to even respond to the Americans.But conventional wisdom at the UN is that Pakistan has little choice but to withdraw him, because for all practical purposes, Akram is compromised. "If he doesn't go, there'll always be this Damocles' sword hanging over him. He's been rendered ineffective," said a diplomat. There's already talk that Akram would be recalled soon. Both Munir and Zamir, who is now ambassador to Nepal, have made their reputation on the one thing that serves Pakistani diplomats well—loud anti-India rhetoric. They have successfully parleyed their bellicosity to endear themselves to the army establishment. Two days after taking his post in NY, Munir Akram threatened the use of nuclear weapons against India. "India should not have the license to kill with conventional weapons while Pakistan's hands are tied regarding other means to defend itself," he said. In Geneva, he regularly accused India of harbouring the lowest of low intentions against Pakistan because it declined to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in the mid-1990s. Says G. Parthasarthy, India's former high commissioner to Pakistan: "In my view, the senior diplomats of the 1980s like Niaz Naik, Riaz Piracha, Humayun Khan and Shahryar Khan were sophisticated people who could put their view points without being abrasive." But the later crop led by the Akram brothers, Riaz Khokhar and Shamshad Ahmed went to another school, one where more bile means more clout with the army and the ISI. REFERENCE: PAKISTAN Sex, Rhetoric And Diplomatic Impunity Islamabad is hard pressed to withdraw its 'diplo-basher'. New Delhi is only too relieved. SEEMA SIROHI, AMIR MIR MAGAZINE | JAN 27, 2003 http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?218720
A conversation about Indian-Pakistani relations with Munir Akram and Fareed Zakaria in Current Affairs on Monday, June 3, 2002 http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/2523
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