A man with a mission, but no government

NEW DELHI: What does a diplomat with a mission but no government to represent do? A tough question, but the charge d''affaires at the Iraqi embassy here has an answer. "I am representing my people, my country," Adday Al Sakab maintains, stoically dismissing any suggestion that his role as an envoy has ended with the ouster of the Saddam Hussein regime by the US.
In fact, the buzz in the Iraqi embassy would appear to bear out his argument.Though the embassy no longer sports any portraits of Saddam - they once were mounted in every room - it would seem like business as usual were it not for an air of watchful tension.
Sakab is busy answering phones, dealing with queries by businessmen and says he is too occupied to meet anyone without an appointment.
Irritated with "false reports" suggesting the embassy had closed down or that he was seeking asylum, he maintains that he has been carrying out his diplomatic activities to the best of his capacity.
In fact, in one of his first diplomatic engagements in the post-Saddam era, Sakab says he was called in to South Block to discuss the issue of delivery of relief assistance from India to Iraq.
However, he admits that in the absence of any authority, his role is limited. He has had no contact with Baghdad and currently limits himself to "waiting and watching, sitting here waiting for directions".
His colleague, Omar Munir, a third secretary in the embassy, wants to go home. This is his first posting and he has been here a bare six months, not exactly the smoothest of first innings in the diplomatic service. But he is not in a tearing hurry to return. His immediate family is with him in Delhi and he has heard from Baghdad that all his other family members there are safe. The families of all other embassy staffers are also safe.
Munir and his colleagues say Indians have been very kind. "My neighbours ask about our families (in Iraq) and say they are praying for us."
Munir sees no reason why he will not continue to represent whatever authority is set up in Baghdad.
Iraqi refugees sitting in the embassy are, however, more outspoken than the staffers. Hassan Alsary had to leave Iraq because he was a political activist and does not think he can return for a year or two. "That is how long it will take for the Americans to leave Iraq."