E-Paper | May 12, 2026

Afghan envoy complains PIA misplaced his luggage twice this week

Dawn.comNaveed Siddiqui Published October 25, 2018
Afghan Ambassador Dr Omar Zakhilwal on Thursday said that his luggage had gone missing on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Islamabad to Kabul for a second time this week. — File
Afghan Ambassador Dr Omar Zakhilwal on Thursday said that his luggage had gone missing on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Islamabad to Kabul for a second time this week. — File
comments
Whatsapp Channel
Add Dawn as a trusted source
Google Preferred Source

Afghanistan's Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal on Thursday claimed that his luggage had been misplaced by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) twice this week as he travelled from Islamabad to Kabul.

Expressing his annoyance in a tweet, Zakhilwal said: "Second time in a row in a week my suitcase goes missing on Islamabad-Kabul PIA flight and then ends up in UK. Could it be just coincidental mismanagement?"

PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said that a complaint has been lodged by the passenger and the matter is being investigated.

Later in the day, Tajwar told Dawn.com that the missing suitcase has been located and will be delivered to the Afghan envoy in Kabul tomorrow.

The PIA official said that Zakhilwal's suitcase was wrongly checked into PK-791 flight for Birmingham, which departs nearly half-an-hour ahead of the PIA's flight for Kabul, which the Afghan envoy was to board.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.
Pakistan

Read more

Anjum - KSA
Oct 25, 2018 05:23pm
Mr. Ambassador, I often travel through some of the top airlines, my luggage has been misplaced many times. It happens. Please don't assume everything to be negative!!
Recommend 0
Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Oct 25, 2018 05:23pm
This happens and could happen with any and all airlines of the world.
Recommend 0
BhaRAT
Oct 25, 2018 05:29pm
In july 2018 I traveled from Hong Kong to christchurch with friends in Qantas airways and I got my luggage after three days so it happens sometimes there’s no need to make a big deal out of it
Recommend 0
Hamza
Oct 25, 2018 05:41pm
Yea lets see how good Afghan airlines is
Recommend 0
Jjacky
Oct 25, 2018 06:12pm
Why r u travelling thru pia, better use pakistan's private airlines.
Recommend 0
Ahmad
Oct 25, 2018 06:19pm
@BhaRAT 2 times in a week is too much
Recommend 0
ABE
Oct 25, 2018 06:20pm
Why single out PIA? Unless you have choice of other top international carriers which fly to Kabul!? NOT! My luggage has been lost by a number of Europea, MEastern and American air carriers over the years, So PIA is not unique with this problem. It can happen even with the best of them: Singapore Airline, Emirates, Lufthansa, Cathey Pacific, Qantars and Japan Airlines etc..
Recommend 0
Shahzad
Oct 25, 2018 06:21pm
We still fly to kabul
Recommend 0
ga
Oct 25, 2018 06:26pm
First loss was due to PIA incompetence. The 2nd loss was due to your incompetence for flying PIA again.
Recommend 0
Pak-uk
Oct 25, 2018 06:40pm
All they do is CoMPLaint.. about everything about anything.
Recommend 0
Naveed
Oct 25, 2018 06:49pm
Dear Ambassador this is a common problem faced by all of us. In fact due to this reason I have stopped flying by PIA. I hope with the new government there will be changes that will fix this airline.
Recommend 0
ZAF
Oct 25, 2018 06:56pm
Mr. Ambassador , Please raise this issue at UN form next,
Recommend 0
RJM
Oct 25, 2018 07:01pm
Everyone knows where that luggage went and for what purpose. They won't dare to do that to the envoy of China.
Recommend 0
anwarsher
Oct 25, 2018 07:06pm
Do not travel next time. As they say: fool me once shame on you; foul me twice shame on shame.
Recommend 0
Maria enteparia onnuchoriu
Oct 25, 2018 07:21pm
Incompetence.
Recommend 0
Maria enteparia onnuchoriu
Oct 25, 2018 07:22pm
@ga , who else fly this route?
Recommend 0
Himmat
Oct 25, 2018 07:31pm
Getting luggage misplaced is rare event. Ambassador should change airline
Recommend 0
Abdulla KSA
Oct 25, 2018 07:42pm
Be careful about your money purse and luggage.
Recommend 0
M. Saeed
Oct 25, 2018 07:50pm
@Jjacky: Only PIA goes to Kabul from Islamabad.
Recommend 0
Sab Se Pehle Pakistan
Oct 25, 2018 07:57pm
Then don't travel on PIA. I have never seen any Afghan official praising Pakistan for what we have done as a nation for them. It is only complaints. For PIA please improve the quality of your services. It is a matter of national image.
Recommend 0
Vinod
Oct 25, 2018 08:14pm
He is a diplomat.
Recommend 0
Sacchai
Oct 25, 2018 08:19pm
@BhaRAT Thanks for letting us know you travel international.
Recommend 0
Javed
Oct 25, 2018 08:28pm
I have been traveling internationally for over 30 years and my baggage was delayed only once. The Ambassador’s case is strange indeed.
Recommend 0
Shehzada Rana
Oct 25, 2018 08:43pm
He himself can be responsible for that. Why he is flying with Pia?
Recommend 0
The Last Picture Show
Oct 25, 2018 08:55pm
@Maria enteparia onnuchoriu ... I'd say theft, not incompetence.
Recommend 0
Hedonist
Oct 25, 2018 09:09pm
@ga Good one !
Recommend 0
GHALIBJEEE
Oct 25, 2018 09:45pm
I will never trust the Afghans
Recommend 0
Alla Bux
Oct 25, 2018 09:51pm
@Anjum - KSA You are just a common man but Ambassador is different. His luggage is handled or should be handled differently. In fact, when I fly First or Business my luggage is tagged 'priority' and is taken out first and handled differently. I never had lost luggage so far in decades of flying. A diplomat's luggage should be handled even better unless someone in our Government is involved.
Recommend 0
Shehzada Rana
Oct 25, 2018 10:14pm
And what about your luggage misplaced thrice? Keep complaining Mr Ambassador.
Recommend 0
shaffiq
Oct 25, 2018 10:30pm
Only twice !...how lucky you are.
Recommend 0
NK
Oct 25, 2018 10:49pm
Last year i had the same experience with Emirates. Mr. ambassador this nothing new in today's travel.
Recommend 0
lion
Oct 25, 2018 10:49pm
he should travel on his best friends airline. India air. Don't come here
Recommend 0
Zeb Khan
Oct 25, 2018 10:57pm
Not misplaced, deliberately sent elsewhere to send a message to Afghan diplomat as a form of protest; remember that Afghan atrocity where high rank persons killed by their own guard and Afghans blamed Pakistan for a crime committed by their own people; Pakistan is telling diplomat dont accuse us for your own countrys shortcomings and failures.
Recommend 0
Iqbal Malik
Oct 25, 2018 11:22pm
It looks deliberate, sorry.
Recommend 0
Zak
Oct 25, 2018 11:28pm
PIA needs a clean up.
Recommend 0
Desi
Oct 25, 2018 11:29pm
Losing luggage is a common occurrence when you try by air. Every airline has this problem. Perhaps the Ambassador should travel in private charter plane, his luggage will never be lost.
Recommend 0
Omar
Oct 25, 2018 11:33pm
Twice in a row is excessive, but then it's PIA !
Recommend 0
Lahori kid
Oct 26, 2018 12:11am
Embarrassing for Pakistan, boy this PIA cannot do anything right. having said that, it does happen some times with all airlines, unfortunately it happens often with PIA, at least they put him on the right flight, he should be glad he didn't end up in London like his luggage.
Recommend 0
Shubs
Oct 26, 2018 12:22am
If I were the Afghan Ambassador, I would send the luggage for forensic examination for listening and tracking devices and get myself a new suitcase!
Recommend 0
Shubs
Oct 26, 2018 12:24am
@LION "India Air"? Is that a new airline you set up? Do tell!
Recommend 0
John
Oct 26, 2018 01:06am
@Zeb Khan Interesting forum of protest which reflects as a weakness of PIA. Great job!!
Recommend 0
Asghar a Rizvi
Oct 26, 2018 01:41am
Nothing to make news about.
Recommend 0
Alla Bux
Oct 26, 2018 01:48am
This appears deliberate. He is traveling on diplomatic passport. Who could have done that? Anyone?
Recommend 0
Akil Akhtar
Oct 26, 2018 03:23am
Go and don't come back
Recommend 0
loe
Oct 26, 2018 07:19am
Are you surprised Mr. Ambassador? PIA the worst airline to say the least...
Recommend 0
Anjum Khan USA
Oct 26, 2018 07:25am
@ga you are so right bro
Recommend 0
Anjum Khan USA
Oct 26, 2018 07:27am
@Alla Bux exactly what I ment
Recommend 0
Leoman
Oct 26, 2018 07:56am
That's the speciality of PIA. Though it can happen and happens with almost all airlines but the ratio record of PIA would be great.
Recommend 0
Suraj71
Oct 27, 2018 09:57pm
No statement from PIA.. No respect for customer?? Such arlinem management should be brought to the book..
Recommend 0

Most Popular

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Latest Stories

Opinion

A changed world

A changed world

Arifa Noor
The phrase ‘security provider’ sounds impressive but there is little clarity on what it means for the country.

Editorial

Bannu attack
Updated 12 May, 2026

Bannu attack

The security narrative and strategy of the KP government diverges considerably from the state’s position.
Cotton crisis
12 May, 2026

Cotton crisis

PAKISTAN’S cotton economy is once again facing a crisis that exposes the country’s flawed agricultural and...
Buddhist heritage
12 May, 2026

Buddhist heritage

THE revival of Buddhist chants at the ancient Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila after nearly 1,500 years is much more ...
New regional order
Updated 11 May, 2026

New regional order

The fact is that the US has only one true security commitment in the Middle East — Israel.
A better start
11 May, 2026

A better start

THE first 1,000 days of a child’s life often shape decades to come. In Pakistan, where chronic malnutrition has...
Widening gap
11 May, 2026

Widening gap

PAKISTAN’S monthly trade deficit ballooned to $4.07bn last month, its highest level since June 2022, further...
Dawn News English Podcasts
Subscribe