This is not the very first time for me to pen on the subject rather it had been flashed during the time when my favorite Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf had rules but alas the ground realities have not changed even a bit.

Order of precedence is an internationally accepted code of conduct which very clearly defines as to who is who and equivalent to whom and resultantly heads of state of mightiest USA or, for that matter, a poorest African country are at par and on equal footing. However, it is very much regretted that in my beloved Pakistan-the country I belong to, we instead of keeping our heads high, try to lower ourselves for no reason and rhyme.

How could a few days ago, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee could call my President Asif Ali Zardari when there is a vast gap of authority between the two? As a minister he is entitled and limited to talk to his counterpart-Foreign Minister of Pakistan and not above even to a senior minister of Pakistan whatsoever. One may point out that the telephone call was a hoax which is of no consequence simply because what I am asking for is as to how did my President attend the telephone call of a junior and that too from a hostile country? The operator at the President House had an inborn authority to tell Indian FM that as per protocol he could not speak to Head of State but who cares.

Just two days ago US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte had the guts to call on President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad but under what terms of protocol? It must not be forgotten that he is none but Deputy Foreign Minister so in Pakistan as per precedence he can not go above our State Minister. Isn't is funny that he met our Foreign Minister  Shah Mehmood Qureshi who is above him in any case provided my FM realizes the hard fact. What prompted John Negroponte to meet Shaukat Tarin, Advisor to PM on Finance and Economic Affairs when the two are neither equal ranked officials nor they have common portfolios?

Let me quote an instance to prove that not all compromise on principles. Lately H.E. Dr Issac Nyathi was Zimbabwe Ambassador in Kuwait and he told me the instance which proves my point of view. Zimbabwe ambassador was making a courtesy call on his colleague-American Ambassador which is quite but natural. When Zimbabwe ambassador car reached the gate of US embassy, the security guards wanted to search the car before letting it go inside. Zimbabwe ambassador took an exception to it and returned rather than subjecting to security checks.

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With my honest and solemn prayers

Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi_x_diplomat@hotmail.com