WELCOME VISITOR
Massive police presence drafted in to protect William and Kate for their royal tour amid rising tensions
The Duchess of Cambridge is welcomed by children as she arrives at a Pakistani air force base near Islamabad, on the first day of a visit to Pakistan with the Duke of Cambridge. A large security presence has been drafted in for the tour, billed as their “most complex” yet.
NEVER BEFORE has a royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge been so wrapped in secrecy and security – but the tense circumstances surrounding their tour of Pakistan was belied by a warm welcome last night.
William and Kate were all smiles as they stepped off RAF Voyager at the Pakistani Air Force base in Rawalpindi, near the capital city of Islamabad, where they were greeted by Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his wife.
Kate, wearing a blue ombre gown by Catherine Walker – a designer favoured by William’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales – was given a bouquet of flowers by a young girl when the couple touched down shortly after 9.30pm local time.
The couple’s engagements from now on will only be made known day by day because of the backdrop of rising tensions in the region.
Ahead of the five-day trip, which continues until Friday, Kensington Palace said it was the couple’s “most complex” tour to date.
A large security presence has been drafted in to secure their safety, with Pakistan and India at odds over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.
Authorities in Delhi and Islamabad both claim the
Himalayan region in full but each is only in controls a section of the territory. Internationally, the disputed area is recognised as “Indian-administered Kashmir” and “Pakistan-administered Kashmir”.
Violent skirmishes between the two sides at the de-facto border have increased this year, causing troop and civilian casualties.
Pakistan has seen a number of security incidents in recent months, including a bombing outside a shrine in central Lahore, as well as an attack by armed militants on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar, Balochistan.
It has been reported that more than 1,000 Pakistani police officers have been drafted in to guarantee the safety of the royal couple while they travel across the Islamic country. The couple’s
first full day of engagements begins at an evening reception tonight. The Duke is expected to say that the UK will continue
An extract from a speech due to be given by the Duke of Cambridge this evening.
to support Pakistan as a “key partner and friend”.
The visit, requested by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, aims to strengthen ties between the two nations.
The UK wants to improve its international relations with Brexit looming, while Pakistan hopes to promote itself as a tourist destination despite the ongoing security fears.
“Pakistan is the world’s sixth
largest country by population,” the Duke will tell guests this evening. “It has an unbelievably diverse geography that spans deserts to glaciers and everything in between.
“It is the birth place of the youngest ever Nobel peace prize winner.
“We share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for Pakistan to succeed.
“Not least because of the 1.5m
people living in the UK with Pakistani origin and the fact that the UK is one of the biggest investors in Pakistan’s economy.
“You can always rely on the UK to keep playing an important role as a key partner and friend.”
More than 1.5 million people of Pakistani origin currently live in the UK, with an estimated 270,000 British nationals visiting the country every year.
It will always be in our best interests for Pakistan to succeed.