GUNFIRE outside the Washington Hilton during the White House correspondents’ dinner recently rattled an evening meant to be ceremonial. Despite protection by the United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an armed man reached a screening zone.

President Donald Trump and other politicians had to be rushed out, while an officer survived only because he was wearing a bulletproof vest. It was a rather sobering reminder that even the most sophisticated systems can have unseen vulnerabilities. Around the same time, Pakistan was facilitating sensitive contacts between Washington and Tehran during a fragile ceasefire. Delegations moved discreetly, routes stayed sterile, and meetings ended without noise or incident. Visiting teams spoke of arrangements that were tight, layered and professional.

All this unfolded in a country managing pressures from Afghanistan, India and Iran while continuing a long counterterrorism effort at home. Yet, security for guests remained seamless and un-obtrusive. No spectacle, no slogans, just disciplined execution shaped by hard experience.

Real security is measured not by visible force, but by the absence of disruption. By that simple standard, Pakistan’s performance deserves a pat on the back.

Dr Zafar Khan Safdar
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026