Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Turkmen Ambassador Atajan Movlamov hosted a luncheon reception to bid farewell to Afghan Ambassador Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal last week.

On the occasion, two new envoys were also introduced to the fellow ambassadors, high commissioners and UN heads - Wendy Gilmour from Canada and Mag. Nicolaus Keller from Austria.

In his farewell speech, Dr Zakhilwal drew the attention to a number of issues related to his three-and-a-half years as his country’s envoy to Pakistan.

He said he had been a refugee in Pakistan for a while at the age of 17, and that he later went to Canada for further studies, including a doctorate in economics and work. When he returned home to Afghanistan, he joined politics and was the finance minister for some time. He said he had no diplomatic background when he came to Pakistan, and he thanked his fellow envoys for guidance and friendship.

He did not say what he would do at home, but a guest who followed Afghan politics whispered that maybe he would be one of the candidates in next year’s presidential elections.

“In any case, I am sure his time in politics is not over,” he said.

At the event, Ambassador Zakhilwal was accompanied by a few fellow Afghan diplomats, a state minister for parliamentary affairs and other visitors.

Dr Zakhilwal thanked Pakistan for its continued help during Afghanistan’s many difficult years, its generous hosting of refugees and other cooperation. He said that of the some two million refugees, 80pc were born in Pakistan. But even when they return home, they will carry Pakistani culture with them, he said.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2018