I have been living in Pakistan for so long that it feels like I was born here. Which is true, in a way: the three years I spent here were worth a lifetime of personal and professional experiences. Tomorrow, as I leave Islamabad for the last time, this life will end. An entirely different challenge awaits me in New York, at the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations. Things were not always easy. I have lost friends and acquaintances to terrorist attacks. Some of the development projects I supported were successful, while others failed. I witnessed sectarian intolerance, media censorship and gender-based violence far too often. Even for a diplomat, some truths must be said. Yet I consider myself lucky and privileged for my years in this country. From the death of the worlds most wanted terrorist to the conclusion of Pakistans first ever democratic transition, I have seen history unfold. From the lofty peaks of Hunza to the endless bazaars of Karachi, from the rugged valleys of Waziristan to the ornate architecture of Lahore, I have known a land of magnificently raw beauty. Above all I have met some of the most extraordinary people I could ever conceive: courageous artists, dynamic industrialists, enthusiastic students, fearless refugees, committed journalists and visionary political leaders. A nation of faithful men and brave women. This is what I will remember forever. Thank you for everything, Pakistan, and farewell. May your future be bright. Your people deserves nothing less.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:12:08 +0000
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