National day celebration: Multan incident, border escalations echo at Spanish reception

ISLAMABAD:

Guests were welcomed by smiling faces and rows of tiki torches leading up to the lawns of the Spanish ambassador’s residence where the Fiesta Nacional de España (the Spanish national day) reception was held late Monday evening. Although the day is celebrated on October 12, the reception was held a day later, perhaps to avoid lower attendance on Sunday. Whatever the case, the event was well-attended, as guests had a lovely evening with hors d’oeuvres such as aubergine stuffed with cheese and fish empanadas along other traditional treats for the palette 

Spanish Ambassador Javier Carbajosa in his brief speech highlighted Pakistan’s role in the war on terror and stressed the international community to help Pakistan in dealing with the problem and lessen the sufferings of its people.



He said cooperation between Spain and Pakistan stems from the fact that we share similar perceptions on major global and regional issues such as the Millennium Development Goals, UN reforms, climate change and cultural dialogue. He mentioned that “a piece of Pakistan is also in Spain”, as over 100,000 Pakistanis live in the Iberian country.

He also highlighted investment opportunities in Spain, noting that “despite the serious economic crisis faced by many Euro zone countries, Spain is still considered the fourth biggest economy of the zone and is the tenth-largest investor worldwide”.

SAFRON Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch while speaking as chief guest expressed the hope that relations between the two countries would touch new heights.

Whodunit at the rally?

Conflict was not just discussed on the stage. On the sidelines, the wife of an ambassador of a neighbouring country brought up how shared history and culture could be an effective tools with which conflicts could be resolved, but only if they were given a chance.

Meanwhile, the political conflict being fought out by residents of Bani Gala and Raiwind also came up, with a person affiliated with the former admitting that there were ‘problems’ with the arrangement of the Multan rally, specifically with generator operators who cut the lights as soon as the clock struck the pre-agreed time. A notable neutral standing nearby asked if, at the bare minimum, this meant blame for the fiasco was to be shared. Much the same as the rest of the country, he did not get a clear answer.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2014.