'Madam Is Sleeping, Can't Be Disturbed': E Diplomat Calls Pakistani Politicians 'Waste Of Time'
'Madam Is Sleeping, Can't Be Disturbed': E Diplomat Calls Pakistani Politicians 'Waste Of Time' Published By, Last Updated: July 04, 2026, 08:10 IST While giving
'Madam Is Sleeping, Can't Be Disturbed': E Diplomat Calls Pakistani Politicians 'Waste Of Time' Published By, Last Updated: July 04, 2026, 08:10 IST While giving credit to Pakistan's military for its diplomatic manoeuvring, Kausikan said external achievements could not compensate for internal weaknesses. Rapid Read Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (Credits: Reuters) Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan has sharply criticised Pakistan’s political leadership and state institutions, saying the country has been “teetering on the brink of failure" for years because of poor governance, economic mismanagement and the unchecked rise of extremist groups. Speaking at the Press Foundation’s International Reporting Fellowship, Kausikan rejected the suggestion that Pakistan’s geographical location was the main reason behind its problems. Responding to a question from a Pakistani journalist, he argued that the country’s challenges were rooted in decades of poor governance rather than geography. “That’s just an excuse. The fact is that Pakistan, from the very beginning, has been mismanaged terribly," he said. Kausikan also took aim at both the military establishment and the civilian political class, saying the country’s governance crisis could not be blamed on a single institution. “The military is both part of the problem and what holds the country together. Your civilian politicians are a waste of time, all of them, regardless of party," he remarked. Kausikan served as Singapore’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2013 and currently chairs the Middle East Institute at the University of Singapore.
Recalls 1991 Singapore Airlines Hijacking Drawing on a personal experience, Kausikan referred to the hijacking of a Singapore Airlines aircraft by Pakistani militants in March 1991 to illustrate what he described as Pakistan’s feudal political culture. He claimed the hijackers wanted to speak with former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was no longer in office and was staying in Sindh at the time. Bilahari Kausikan:In 1991, Pakistani hijackers took over Singapore Airlines Flight SQ117. Their demand was to speak to former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto, but her staff reportedly refused to wake her up at night. Singapore did not waste time. Its commandos stormed the plane,… pic.twitter.com/6XBMTR2zyA — Ary Sangwan (@Arysangwan) July 3, 2026 According to Kausikan, he contacted Bhutto’s residence in the early hours of the morning with the assistance of Pakistan’s High Commissioner. Despite repeatedly explaining that the hijackers had threatened to begin killing passengers unless they were allowed to speak with Bhutto, he said his request was refused. “I explained this to the person three times," Kausikan recalled. He said the reply he received was: “Madam is sleeping, cannot be disturbed," before the call was abruptly ended. Singapore’s security forces later launched an operation to retake the aircraft, killing all four hijackers and rescuing every passenger and crew member unharmed. “We still do not know and we’ll never know what they really wanted because they’re all dead," he said.
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