Senior diplomats and defence officials celebrate service and cooperation
TP report
Islamabad:
A formal farewell dinner was held in honour of Captain Iain Kearsley, Naval and Air Adviser at the British High Commission in Pakistan, in recognition of his distinguished service and significant contributions to bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation. The event was hosted by renowned Pakistani philanthropist and former Commissioner Pakistan Boy Scouts, Sardar Waqar Shahzad, at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad, where senior diplomats, defence attachés and prominent figures from the international community gathered to pay tribute to Captain Kearsley’s tenure. Captain Kearsley has earned wide respect for his professionalism, integrity and unwavering commitment to strengthening defence dialogue and collaboration between Pakistan and partner nations, with his efforts playing a key role in fostering mutual understanding and advancing defence cooperation. The dinner was attended by a distinguished group of guests including Colonel Josef Stephen, Defence Officer of the United States; Colonel GS Sandro Möller, PhD, Defence Attaché of Switzerland; Lieutenant Colonel Joern Rist, Defence Attaché of Germany; Paolo Stella, Defence Attaché of Italy; Group Captain Michael Formby, Defence Adviser at the British High Commission; Colonel Jérôme, Defence Attaché of France; Ambassador (Retd.) Ayub, former Ambassador of Pakistan to Bahrain; officers and representatives from France, the United Kingdom and other partner nations, as well as prominent religious and diplomatic figure Tahir Ashrafi. As a gesture of traditional Pakistani hospitality, host Sardar Waqar Shahzad presented each guest with a Chitrali cap and a handcrafted wall hanging, symbolising Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage and warmth. In a reciprocal gesture, Captain Iain Kearsley presented Sardar Waqar Shahzad with a traditional Scottish woollen muffler, reflecting Scotland’s cultural traditions and the spirit of mutual respect. The evening concluded with heartfelt expressions of appreciation for Captain Kearsley’s outstanding service and warm wishes for success in his future assignments.
