Oxford launches book on Jamsheed Marker's diplomatic career

Oxford University Press launched its latest publication, Quiet Diplomacy: Memoirs of an Ambassador by Jamsheed Marker, on 14 January 2010, in Karachi. This book is Jamsheed Marker's recollection of his varied diplomatic career in some of the world's most important capitals, and covers the critical years in Pakistan's history when it was endeavouring to establish friendly relations with countries around the world. Seen in the photograph are (from l to r): Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director, Oxford University Press Pakistan; Jamsheed Marker; and Aneesuddin Ahmed, former Pakistani Ambassador to France.

Karachi, 14 Jan.: Oxford University Press launched its latest publication Quiet Diplomacy: Memoirs of an Ambassadorwritten by the seasoned diplomat, Jamsheed Marker. The author has met and known many of the world's leaders, and has been witness to some significant events of the second half of the twentieth century, the impressions of which he has recounted great candour in the book. The book covers the critical periods in the early years of Pakistan when the country was struggling to establish friendly relations with countries around the world. The author, in his capacity as Pakistan's ambassador to the US, was intimately involved in forging a joint strategy with the United States in the effort to expel the Soviet army from Afghanistan. The author paints a vivid picture of the hectic behind-the-scenes efforts which culminated in the Geneva Accord in 1988 and the subsequent withdrawal of Soviet forces. Jamsheed Marker has juxtaposed events in Pakistan concurrently with each of his ambassadorial assignments. This not only provides a link and continuous thread to the narrative but also contains the author's impressions of the Pakistani leaders under whom he served.

Jamsheed Marker is a veteran Pakistani diplomat, having served as Pakistan's top envoy to the United States and more than a dozen other countries for more than three decades and earned the distinction as the world's longest-serving ambassador. After his retirement, he was appointed by Kofi Annan as the UN Secretary General's Personal Representative for East Timor and in this capacity he conducted negotiations between the governments of Indonesia and Portugal and the East Timorese leaders. This ended a ten-year conflict and led to the independence of Timor Leste. Jamsheed Marker received the 1939/45 Star, the Burma Star, the War Service Medal and Victory Medal for his war services. His civil awards comprise the Sitara Quaid-i-Azam and Hilal-i-Imtiaz from the Government of Pakistan, the Grand Officier de l'Ordre de Merite from the Republic of France, and in token of his leadership of the Group of 77 at the United Nations, the Grand Cross of the Order of San Carlos by the Republic of Colombia

The launch ceremony was well-attended by diplomats, bureaucrats, academics, and the media. The evening featured a discussion with Jamsheed Marker on his book and diplomatic career. Aneesuddin Ahmed, former Pakistani Ambassador to France, conducted the discussion and posed penetrating questions to the author which brought out how he used his intelligence, discretion, and perseverance to champion Pakistan's cause and relentlessly worked towards finding solutions and bridging differences to resolve conflicts. In her welcome address, Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director, Oxford University Press Pakistan, introduced the author, and said that the book is a valuable account of the art of diplomacy, as practised by an expert over a long period of time. She also gave an overview of other books published by OUP Pakistan on the subject of diplomacy and international relations.