Diplomatic ties: We want a stable Pakistan, says Danish ambassador

Denmark to give Pakistan $28 million for development.

KARACHI:

Despite some rough patches in the relationship between Denmark and Pakistan, the Danish ambassador said that there was space in this multi-faceted world for all of us. He added that his country was ready, willing and able to work with Pakistan.

While speaking at an event organised by the English-speaking Union of Pakistan, Ambassador Uffe Wolffhechel said that he knew it was a difficult time for Pakistan and Denmark wanted to strengthen the bond with it by contributing towards development and stability of the country. He added that the Danish government had decided to give $28 million for democratic development, regional stability, human rights and gender equality.

In response to a question on the 2008 bombing at the Danish embassy in Islamabad, the ambassador said that the attack was carried out by individuals – not Pakistan. “The country’s government was always there to help us,” he said. “It [the attack] did not affect our relationship with Pakistan.” He added that there should be a stronger focus on education as extremism was a complex issue.

There are around 21,000 Pakistanis living in Denmark and their first generation has to a large extent integrated in Danish society.

The vice president of the union and chairman of the Avari Group of Companies, Byram Dinshawji Avari, shared a story about his first trip to Denmark. At the age of nine, Avari went to Copenhagen in 1951 with his family and after an exhausting day of sightseeing went back to the hotel to order six sandwiches. He said that when the food got to his room he was pleasantly surprised to see six trays of six foot-long sandwiches.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2012.