ISLAMABAD: The Fore­ign Office on Thursday played down what is being seen as a diplomatic embarrassment during the Riyadh summit by blaming it on paucity of time, saying that the Saudi monarch apologised to all participating leaders who did not get an opportunity to speak.

“Nearly 30 plus Muslim leaders were expected to deliver their remarks. However, due to severe paucity of time (as the summit started behind schedule) only a few leaders, besides the Saudi king and the US President, could make their remarks. The king personally apologised to the remaining Muslim leaders, who could not get the opportunity to speak,” Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said at the weekly media briefing.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was expecting to speak at the Arab-Islamic-American Summit held on Sunday, but could not get a chance to do so.

The PMO in its curtain raiser on Mr Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the summit had clearly said that he would deliver a speech in which he would “focus on Islam’s message of peace, tolerance and unity. … highlight the great sacrifices and major successes achieved by Pakistan in defeating the scourge of terrorism and extremism in the region”.

However, at the summit the prime minister was not given an opportunity to deliver his prepared remarks. This was seen back home has a snub by the Saudi hosts and diplomatically a major embarrassment for the only Muslim country with nuclear weapons and one that was successfully defeating extremism and terrorism within its territory.

Opposition leaders criticised the prime minister for the way Pakistan was treated at the summit. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan said every Pakistani “felt ashamed” over it.

Mr Zakaria’s explanation implied that there was general apology for all leaders who could not get the podium, but nothing specific for Pakistan.

Not getting the chance to speak at the summit was not the only problematic thing. Critics also pointed to absence of acknowledgement of Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism in President Trump’s speech.

“As for President Trump mentioning of countries as victims of terrorism, if one closely examine the speech, he named those countries which were not present at the summit. These included Russia, China, South Africa, Europe and India. In the paragraph that followed, he mentioned the sacrifices and contributions of Muslim countries, Arab states and Middle Eastern countries en-masse, and highlighted how these nations suffered at the hands of terrorism,” FO spokesman further explained.

Asked about the US and Saudi plans to isolate Iran, he said, Pakistan remained committed to bridging differences within the Muslim Ummah, and bringing the countries closer. He said Pakistan would play that role, whenever there was an opportunity.

Line of Control

A change in position on the alleged targeting of a vehicle of UN military observers near the Line of Control was visible after a UN spokesman refuted the Pakistani claim saying there was no evidence to support that the military observers were targeted.

Mr Zakaria in his briefing only mentioned a ceasefire violation by India taking place during the visit of the observers.

“Yesterday, when Unmogip Team was on a visit to the LoC, Indian occupation forces committed ceasefire violation from IOK,” he said.

In response to another question, the FO spokesman said the observers were to LoC “to see ceasefire violations and in the meanwhile there was firing”.

His remarks contrasted a very categorical statement from ISPR about UN observers being targeted.

“Indian post commits CFV. Targeted UNMOGIP vehicle moving along LOC in Khanjar Sector. Vehicle was carrying UNMOGIP Officers Major Emmanual of Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia on visit to LOC with UNMOGIP blue flag hoisted as per procedure,” ISPR had said on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2017