FO draws blank on diplomats' visit

Says Pakistan committed to providing full security to any envoy in country

ISLAMABAD:

In a startling revelation, the Foreign Office on Thursday disclosed that it was not aware of the recent visit of about a dozen ambassadors to Swat where they narrowly escaped a terrorist attack.

A police officer from the security squad was martyred when an explosion hit the vehicle leading the envoys on the way to Malam Jabba earlier this week. All diplomats, who attended an event organised by the chamber of commerce, were unharmed and returned to Islamabad safely.

No group has so far claimed responsibility.

However, the incident raised serious questions about the security arrangements. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government claimed it was not informed about the visit of foreign diplomats to the region which was once a hotbed of terrorism.

On Thursday, Foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was asked a series of questions about the incident, protocols and the role of the foreign ministry.

To utter surprise of many, the spokesperson said the Foreign Office was not informed about the visit.

She said Pakistan condemned that incident of 23rd of September and our security agencies were investigating.

"With regards to this particular incident of 23rd of September, this was a trip which was organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and not by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any government institution," the spokesperson revealed.

"We have taken serious note of the lapses which were made by the concerned individuals, including their failure to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of organizing such a high profile visit," she added.

"We have undertaken internal investigation, and have come to the conclusion that as far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned, all protocols were followed," she said.

"That includes information regarding the travel of ambassadors who contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs individually regarding their travel to the K-P province. This information was shared with the K-P government in writing, and we have documentary evidence for that," she said.

"Some ambassadors individually approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informing us of their travel as has been their practice. This information was shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the K-P government."

"As for the event, which was organized by the Chamber of Commerce, the details of the event were not shared by the Chamber of Commerce with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So, the fact that there would be so many ambassadors traveling together for a particular event not shared with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are in the process of discussions and internal deliberations on how to rectify what has happened and how to fix this for the future," the spokesperson said.

She, nevertheless, said Pakistan was committed to providing full security to any diplomat who is in Pakistan.