Maleeha Lodhi

Maleeha Lodhi entered diplomacy through teaching and journalism. She earned a doctorate at the London School of Economics, taught politics and political sociology there from 1980 to 1985, and became editor of The News. Her books Pakistan’s Encounter with Democracy and The External Challenge collected essays on Pakistani politics and foreign affairs. ¹

During her first Washington assignment in the 1990s, Lodhi worked with Assistant Secretary of State Robin Raphel to lobby for the Brown Amendment, which eased restrictions associated with Pakistan’s nuclear program. In April 1996, she received a $124 million refund cheque from the Defense Security Assistance Agency. Representative Bob Livingston marked her departure in February 1997 with a congressional tribute to her advocacy for Pakistan. ^{2, 3, 4}

Lodhi returned as ambassador in 1999 and remained through 2002. On 12 September 2001, she joined intelligence chief Mahmood Ahmad in Washington talks with Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage. The United States was demanding Pakistan’s support against terrorism following the attacks on New York and Washington, including a decisive change in its relationship with the Taliban. ^{1, 5, 6}

She subsequently served as high commissioner in London from 2003 to 2008 and on the UN secretary-general’s disarmament advisory board from 2001 to 2005. At Harvard in 2008 she brought her experience of diplomacy, journalism, and teaching to the Institute of Politics as a fellow. ^{1, 7}

Pakistan appointed Lodhi its permanent representative to the United Nations in 2015. In August 2019, after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status, she met senior UN officials and pressed for Security Council consideration. In a PBS interview, she argued that India’s action violated international commitments and threatened Kashmiris’ political identity. ^{8, 9}