May be Ambassador Danila Ganich of Russia is not a Career Diplomat – by – Tazeen Akhtar

Ambassador of Russia to Pakistan, Mr. Danila V Ganich was not sure about anything when the Prime Minister of Pakistan was to take off for Moscow the next day. He did not share any specific information as to what agreements are being signed during this “historic” visit, what most of Pakistani media was terming as. Visit of the head of government to the country is the highest performance of any diplomat but the Russian envoy was not enthusiastic. He was quite cool as most of Russia itself is.

Astonishingly, the Ambassador used the term “Durand Line” for Pak-Afghan international border in his interview to the Nation and Nawai Waqt. More astonishingly no one from the panel further questioned the Ambassador “Why he does not call it Pak-Afghan Border,”?

” Durand Line” is a term that is used by some Afghanis that do not consider the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan as international border. It is a mindset that see the territory of Afghanistan up to river Attock in Pakistan. The elements of “Durand Line” are considered enemies of Pakistan by the Pakistanis.

The Russian envoy was ignorant? He deliberately used this term? Taking Pakistani concerns on “Durand Line” as granted? Ministry of Foreign Affairs is supposed to find out and make Mr. Danila stand corrected.

We will definitely put this question before the ministry , politicians, experts of international relations. We will collect their opinions to publish and share with the ministry and the Russian embassy. It is our national duty to nip the evil in the bud. The Russian envoy is expected to understand our concern because it is also the Existential Issue for Pakistan as Mr. Putin looks Ukrainian membership of NATO as Existential challenge to Russia.

Ambassador Danila failed to share any specific information why the visit is important? He just said the visit is important. Certainly when head of a country is visiting your country, no doubt it is important. Question is why? What change in present status of bilateral cooperation is coming? He spoke generally and nothing particularly.

He ruined the only hope of government of Pakistan about North Stream Gas Pipeline as well. He said we have done our job, now Pakistan has to do its job. No one from the panel asked “What Russia has done?” because no one knows what Russia has done.

Interestingly government press releases and statements of Prime Minister’s stalwarts are still claiming that Russia has agreed to help complete this project.

Ambassador Danila dispelled the impression created by government media persons that any Pakistani leader is visiting Russia first time in last 20 or 23 years. He said President Musharraf and President Zardari had visited Russia. That is fact but here it is explaining that Russian side was not looking the visit as our Prime Minister and his favorit media was portraying it before the public.

It means the Russian side was taking the visit as routine matter. It was proved when we saw the pictures and videos of meeting between Mr. Putin and PM Imran Khan. Mr. Putin’s body language was normal and his style of sitting in the chair was not like he was having a rare or important guest in his office.

The Russian Ambassador replied rudely to a question that Russian companies will invest in Pakistan? He said “If you have something, you do not need to advertise. Our companies will see and if they find something they will invest,”. In other words, he said he does not know if there is some attraction in Pakistan or not. It also speaks about his own home work in a country where he has been working as ambassador for years.

While commenting on military cooperation, the Ambassador spoke very highly about very close cooperation between the two militaries but could not share the details. He could only count “four or five MI-35 helicopters”.