Ambassador Riffat Masood is a seasoned Pakistani diplomat with extensive experience in foreign relations. As a trailblazer in a male-dominated field, she has stood up for women’s empowerment and gender equality within the diplomatic corps. Ambassador Masood also made history as Pakistan's first female envoy to the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition to serving in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Turkey, Ambassador Masood was also Pakistan's envoy to Norway, worked in SAARC and as a protocol officer to the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the late Benazir Bhutto. In this episode of New Wave Global with host Rabia Mehmood, Ambassador Masood shares her journey through Pakistan’s civil service and the challenges she faced, specifically during her tenure as the Deputy High Commissioner to India, and as the first female envoy to Iran. She discusses the hurdles in India-Pakistan diplomacy, highlighting how most Pakistani prime ministers lack adequate powers in foreign relations, unlike their Indian counterparts. This diplomatic imbalance, and Pakistan’s lack of focus on improving economy, she argues, has allowed India to gain strategic influence in regions like the Middle East. Ambassador Masood is of the view that a section of the BJP views Pakistan like the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and has not accepted Pakistan’s sovereignty. Ambassador Masood also provides her insights on India's relations with Israel, its regional tensions with China, and the critical need for peaceful borders in South Asia. She emphasises that as the larger country, India's actions have a significant impact on regional stability. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the intricacies of diplomacy and the region's future.