The new Japanese ambassador to Pakistan, Takashi Kurai, was welcomed a dinner for senior diplomats, civil servants and private sector and civil society representatives at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. The dinner was hosted by Irshadullah Khan, on behalf of the Oxbridge Society.

The new ambassador is a career diplomat who has been posted to various countries, including four postings to Russia. He confirmed that he speaks Russian, and an American guest added that his English is also impressive.

The ambassador said that when a diplomat is posted to another country, he or she must learn to enjoy the country they serve in quickly. “For Pakistan, that has already proven to be easy,” he said. “My wife and I came 28 days ago, and we already feel at home in this beautiful country.”

In his speech, Mr Khan gave a brief overview if standard and unusual statistical data about Pakistan, and screened a short film from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2016