( Tazeen Akhtar is writing on international relations for last two decades in Islamabad , as editor of newspapers in the capital of Pakistan he carries many eye witness accounts and observations from on the spot. This write up is meant to sensitize the diplomatic community and it is hoped that the little will be taken as enough to have a better understanding on DOs and DONTs )The embassy of Russian Federation in Islamabad hosted a big reception at a local hotel on 10 June 2026 that started with joy but ended with the disturbing matter of missing a bag of a Russian diplomat.
Who can do such a dirty thing ? is the Question when all guests are invited only when the host is fully satisfied about the status and character of the invited persons.
Certainly the theft can be done by some whom the host embassy staff does not know because only he/she can risk his her repute, not anyone else.
Qudrat Ullah Shahaab late , is a bureaucrat of the early years of Pakistan. His book “Shahaab Naama” is a treasure of knowledge and information. He writes at one place , ” Every capital of the world has many people who frequently attend the diplomatic national days despite not having anything to do on the bilateral affairs.”
Islamabad is no exception.
There is a large crowd of such people including ladies who put on their best suits and dresses and entered into the reception without invitation through back doors or in connivance with the security personnel posted there.
I can narrate here my own experience that happened at Malaysian National Day last year. Two ladies were wandering outside the reception hall looking for some companion or sympathizer who could open the door for them into the reception. They asked me to help and passed critical remarks on me when I said ” Sorry ” to their disappointment.
Next moment was astonishing for me. The staff of the high commission who was clearly listening to the conversation of the ladies and mine, allowed them into the reception. Earlier, the staff of the high commission had stopped many known cameramen of the media that were working regularly with the high commission.
The untoward incidents happen only when un invited persons get access to such events where there are diplomats of different countries at one place with their families and belongings. They do not take much care only because they know that well placed and well reputed people are present there and a check is there around the venue with the staff of the host and Pakistani security agencies.
I was present at the Russian Day reception and therefore I know it was not rightly secured. Many un-invited people were present inside the reception hall. So , it is a clear case of negligence on who was invited and who was not.
I feel sympathy for the owner of the bag and wish it can be traced as soon as possible. The hotel cameras can be checked in detail. If there was any cellular phone or other gadget with sim, the embassy can contact concerned officials at Pakistani security agencies to get its location.
Finally, the embassies are supposed to use their minds about who is related to their work on bilateral relations and cooperation and who is there just to have pictures with the diplomats , exchange the visiting cards only and later use them for their own personal purposes.
