ISLAMABAD: “What can you say under such circumstances? The news catches the breath and leaves one speechless,” said Dr Ayisha Barbara Mustafa, a Pakistani-American of Scandinavian heritage upon hearing the helicopter accident in Gilgit on vacation abroad.

The Norwegian ambassador, Leif Holger Larsen, died along with Domingo D. Lucenario, ambassador of the Philippines, and three Pakistanis, including the two pilots. The wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian envoys also lost their lives in the crash.

The Dutch ambassador, Marcel de Vink, and the Polish ambassador, Andrezej Ananciz, were seriously injured.

“My heart reaches out to the bereaved families,” said Safia Agha, a Pakistani who knew the two ambassadors and the two spouses who perished.

“I think of the many friends in the entire diplomatic community, and indeed those who have passed away or are injured, their families, friends and colleagues,” she added.

“I am close friends of the Swedish ambassador, Tomas Rosander, and his wife Christina. The ambassador was lucky to have been travelling in a separate helicopter, while his wife Dr Christina was at home in Sweden.

“But then others did not have this luck; the Indonesian ambassador’s wife had just come to spend a short time in Pakistan, and one of the things she wanted to do was see the beauty of Pakistan’s northern areas,” said Safia.

“This is very sad news. May God bless the departed souls,” said former ambassador retired Lt-Gen Asad Durrani.

“I am sure we will be informed about where one can sign the condolence book. Foreign envoys become our friends, and so were these fine people who died in this accident.”

Jahangir Piara of a local NGO, working for peace and development, said: “People always spoke so highly of the Norwegian ambassador. He had not even completed a full year in Pakistan and was so enthusiastic about the country and the region. He had earlier dealt with Afghanistan, and Pakistan had long been on his wish-list. It is a great loss for Norway.”

“He showed genuine interest in our work with religious actors, a work supported by the embassy,” said Hanna Mollan from the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA).

People seen leaving the Phillipines embassy in Islamabad on Friday. — Photo by Tanveer Shahzad

In an email from Austria, a former Norwegian ambassador to Pakistan, Robert Kvile, said the information about the accident had not yet been confirmed by the Foreign Office in Oslo, and he was still hoping it was wrong, adding that it was just his last hope.

“I knew Leif well as a colleague and friend. My thoughts go out to his wife and son at home in Norway,” said ambassador Kvile.

“We were to meet the Norwegian ambassador next Sunday. But that is not to be. ‘Man proposes, God disposes’. I and my family would like to attend any memorial service that will be held. The Norwegian ambassador and the Philippine ambassador were true friends of Pakistan,” said Professor Baloch Allah Wadhayo of Preston University, who works in the field of disaster management.

“Since this tragedy touches so many countries, I hope the dean of the Diplomatic Corps will hold a common memorial event,” said an Asian diplomat.

“We need to mourn, remember and talk about our friends in common gatherings,” she said.

“This is a terrible tragedy. All those who have died were very close friends, as are those who are injured. We are deeply grieved,” said Irshadullah Khan and his wife Hooshi, of Oxbridge Society that organises events for diplomats.

In a statement, the Danish ambassador, Jesper Møller Sørensen, said: “I am devastated to learn about the accident. We have lost some dear colleagues and friends. On behalf of the entire staff of the Danish embassy, I would like to extend profound condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. I wish that those who are injured recover fast and fully.”

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2015

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