{"id":1369,"date":"2025-07-24T18:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T18:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefridaynews.com\/?p=1369"},"modified":"2025-07-24T18:05:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T18:05:37","slug":"exploring-soft-power-and-influence-the-currency-of-influence-hits-the-diplomatic-shelves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefridaynews.com\/?p=1369","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Soft Power and Influence: \u201cThe Currency of Influence\u201d Hits the Diplomatic Shelves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Islamabad, 24 July 2025: A landmark contribution to the field of diplomacy, \u201cThe Currency of Influence: Economic Diplomacy and Public Perception through Public Diplomacy\u201d authored by Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Ali Sirohey, was officially launched today at the Secretariat of OIC-COMSTECH in Islamabad.<br>Published by AISI Publications in 2024, the book offers a profound exploration of the evolving dynamics of public and economic diplomacy, blending theoretical insight with real-world experience\u2014particularly drawn from Dr. Sirohey\u2019s tenure as Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador to Niger.<br>The launch ceremony was attended by an esteemed audience of diplomats, civil society leaders, academics, and COMSTECH officials, underscoring the relevance of diplomacy in shaping Pakistan\u2019s global image.<br>A Masterpiece of Modern Diplomatic Thought<br>Spanning 23 chapters, The Currency of Influence highlights the role of soft power, cultural understanding, patience, and public engagement as critical instruments in modern international relations. From diplomatic strategies to field case studies, the book is a rich resource for scholars, policymakers, and students of international affairs.<br>The book includes a foreword by former Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, enhancing its academic value. Already, it has been described as a \u201cmasterpiece of modern diplomatic thought\u201d in both academic and diplomatic circles.<br>H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, lauded Dr. Sirohey\u2019s contribution to diplomacy, praising his service in Africa and his efforts to elevate Pakistan\u2019s international presence. He emphasized the importance of intellectual contributions like this in projecting a positive national narrative.<br>Insights from the Author<br>Currently serving as Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Ali Sirohey shared personal insights during the event and reflected on the importance of science diplomacy and knowledge-sharing among OIC member states, especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa.<br>He also expressed gratitude to COMSTECH for advancing policy-oriented platforms that encourage innovation and strategic dialogue in diplomacy.<br>Conclusion<br>With The Currency of Influence, Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Ali Sirohey provides a compelling blueprint for understanding how influence, narrative, and strategic engagement shape today\u2019s global diplomatic landscape. This work is a timely and essential read for practitioners and students alike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Islamabad, 24 July 2025: A landmark contribution to the field of diplomacy, \u201cThe Currency of Influence: Economic Diplomacy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-newsbeat"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Exploring Soft Power and Influence: \u201cThe Currency of Influence\u201d Hits the Diplomatic Shelves - The Friday News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thefridaynews.com\/exploring-soft-power-and-influence-the-currency-of-influence-hits-the-diplomatic-shelves\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Exploring Soft Power and Influence: \u201cThe Currency of Influence\u201d Hits the Diplomatic Shelves - 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