Covid-19 – Emerging Trends in IR & Diplomacy, and Pakistan (4th Session)
Effective virtual diplomacy need of the hour to answer the challenges of post-pandemic world: Analysts
The
coronavirus pandemic has changed the way diplomacy was conducted and the
transformation will see it practiced more and more through virtual meetings in
the online world. The trend, which only look like escalating in the foreseeable
future, is expected to have a significant impact on international relations
going forward, and will require capacity building of diplomats and other
foreign service officials for enhanced productivity and output.
The views were shared
at a webinar titled ‘Emerging Trends in International Relations & Diplomacy
and Pakistan’, which was organized by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS),
Islamabad as part of its webinar series ‘Covid-19: Global Challenges, National
Response’ on April 20, 2020. The session was addressed by Ambassador (r) Syed
Abrar Hussain and Ambassador (r) Tajammul Altaf as main speakers and jointly
chaired by former secretary finance and member of IPS National Academic Council
Dr Waqar Masood Khan and Executive President IPS Khalid Rahman.
The speakers were unanimous that the coronavirus pandemic
has affected the world massively and its impact is already being felt at the
local, regional and international levels in multifarious ways. International
diplomacy is one area that is at the center of the whole phenomenon, and while
it has a huge role in tackling the global pandemic, it may also have its shape,
form and practices altered significantly in the post-Covid-19 world.
Ambassador Abrar viewed that diplomatic practices will
change significantly in the post-pandemic world where online meetings,
discussions and deliberations will become a norm. He pointed out that the
European Council was the first major organization that started conducting its
meeting online following the global lockdown, after which many international
bodies like the UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank and G20 have started
holding a lot of their activities online.
He said such developments will demand new, innovative
ways to create a diplomatic impact, as well as a bit of capacity building at
the practitioners’ end, as previous practices like VVIP reception and hosting
of dignitaries will eventually wither away to some extent.
Speaking of the impact of the pandemic on international
relations, Abrar said the possibilities of a severe recession loom large, which
will be made worse by escalating unemployment all over the world. The situation
will be a test of abilities of the global leadership and especially for the
major powers which will be required to step up and play an international role.
The general impression is that China is emerging as a leader in this scenario
whereas the US is losing its influence. There however is still a possibility
that the Western countries could unite against China. Either way new
international alliances could be forged whereas a completely new world order is
also a possibility.
The speaker said that Pakistan, in the given
circumstances, should continue to endorse all global efforts to combat the
Covid-19 pandemic, promote collective efforts within the regional forums like
OIC and SAARC, practice efficient economic diplomacy, and strengthen its
relations with expatriates who generally send remittances to the country in big
numbers but presently are in need of help themselves.
Similarly, he added, Pakistan should also make all out
efforts to internationally highlight the plight of Indian Occupied Kashmir in
the current situation and take like-minded countries on board to jointly raise
the issue at the global platforms.
Abrar, in the end, also commended the efforts of
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, stating that they, along with Pakistani embassies,
have been working hard to facilitate the countrymen who were stranded in other
countries. He exclusively mentioned two officials of the embassy in Beijing who
traveled to Wuhan – which was the epicenter of the pandemic, despite the
warning of Chinese authorities that they would only be allowed to return when
the lockdown and quarantine period ends – only to look after the welfare of
Pakistani students and ended up staying there for 76 days. He stressed that such
brave and selfless contributions must also be recognized, acknowledged and
encouraged at the national level.
Ambassador Altaf too was of the opinion that the global
diplomacy, in the near future, will mostly be virtual and will be heavily
based, rather dependent, on technology.
Speaking of global affairs, he said the world seems to be
divided into visible blocs. Though it is still too early to say how things will
shape up in terms of international relations and global politics, going by
early signs it seems that the US is now backtracking on its earlier standpoint
of global primacy and leadership. The process of globalization, which was
expanding fast until recently, is also taking a big hit, especially with
America trying to retain its allies from the West by upholding nationalism and
protectionism while maintaining that first they need to save their own people
and economies. Similarly, the Western countries also want to keep a tight
control on strategies to run global economies, technologies and manufacturing
lines according to their own will.
China, on the other hand, Altaf opined, will be trying to
create more international space for itself by extending help to the countries
in need. Economically poor countries already are not in a position to face the
crisis or sustain the aftermaths of the pandemic on their own, and hence there
could be a possibility that the power center of the world may be seen shifting
from the West to the East.
He said that the analysts across the world are almost
unanimous over the need of creating an environment where the focus will be on
the greater good of the common man, and with Xi Jinping’s initiatives like
‘Silk Health Road’, China is already showing traits of helping other countries
in their time of need. It looks like whichever country does better in this
race, may end up taking the lead.
Expressing his views on the trend of virtual diplomacy,
the speaker called it an opportunity for diplomatic institutions as well as
professionals to interact with each other in a way that is least cumbersome and
most productive, and where the resources being used previously on the other
things could now be used for people’s welfare.
“The world today is faced with a global challenge and
only a global approach can help us come out of this situation. We will need to
build our capacity in such a way where we could strengthen our connections and
adopt best practices to work together for the greater good of mankind,” Altaf
added.
The speakers also agreed on the need that concerning
institutions like NDMA, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Ministry of Commerce in Pakistan should work in close collaboration, practice
effective health diplomacy to identify the places to procure ventilators, nebulizers,
PPEs and other required equipment from, and urgently work out the best
mechanism to do the procurement as easily and as quickly possible.
