Abbasi has further decreased chances of any talks with India in the forseeable future.
The more it changes, the more it remains the same - a phrase which seemed to be coined to describe Pakistan's foreign policy. The country which has been engaged in open hostility with India for the past 70 years again showed its bitter side at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
Newly-elected Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in fact, upped the ante from his predecessor Nawaz Sharif, devoting almost 50% of his total speech to India and more specifically problems in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the process, not only did Abbasi peddle a series of lies, half-truths and concocted facts, he also displayed an elementary lack of diplomatic tact with his outrageous claims.
Diplomacy is about protecting the interest of one’s own nation, but in a multi-national forum like UN, the biggest challenge is to ensure that without being called out for the obvious lacunae. Sadly, Abbasi fell into that trap by making outlandish claims of finishing terror havens in Pakistan, of being in forefront of eliminating Al-Qaeda after 9/11 (Osama was found holed up in Abbottabad), of using their own fund to fight terror (US is one of the biggest donors to Pakistan). Abbasi, just a figurehead propped up by Sharif, became a caricature parroting lies which were easily called out by Indian representative Eenam Gambhir, while using the Right to Reply option.
At a time when Pakistan has become increasingly isolated on the world stage, owing to its cavalier approach towards terrorism, this was a good chance for Abbasi to start a course correction. He could have taken a more nuanced approach by accepting that there have been some mistakes in the past and the new administration will look for course correction. By being in complete denial, Abbasi unfortunately has earned no favours with the world community.
US President Donald Trump after blasting Pakistan during his Afghan policy meeting followed it up by snubbing Abbasi by refusing a meeting. Incidentally, Trump did meet Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani. In a further blow to Pakistan's design, it’s all-weather friend China too specifically declined to intervene in the Kashmir issue.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang clarified Kashmir issue needs to said tbe resolved between India and Pakistan. "China has noted the relevant report. China's position on the Kashmir issue is clear-cut," Lu was quoted as saying.The Kashmir issue is left over from history. China hopes India and Pakistan can increase dialogue and communication and properly handle relevant issues and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability," he said.
It remains to be seen if Abbasi's posturing makes him a darling with the Army, which many believe is behind the removal of Nawaz Sharif from the top post. With elections next year, the anti-India rhetoric is only likely to get sharpened in the coming days from thePak PM and other senior ministers. But unless Pakistan does house cleaning and prove that it is willing to play role of a responsible country, all appeal to the international community is going to fall flat.
Sushma Swaraj in Parliament said that Nawaz Sharif hailing Burhan Wani was the breaking point in resumption of talks with Pakistan. Unfortunately, Shahid Abbasi has continued in the same vein ensuring peace talks are not going to resume anytime soon.
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 "Pakistans Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi addresses the U.N. General Assembly at the United Nations on September 21")
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