Maithri, you missed the treat of juicy Pakistani mangoes

Pakistan's luscious mangoes are not just fruits to be devoured. They have long become a tool of diplomacy, delectable or otherwise.

With the mango season in full swing in his country, Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff this week sent 100 choicest mangoes by air freight to President Maithripala Sirisena. It was cleared by Customs and subjected to Quarantine. They too cleared it as safe. However, someone at the Presidential Secretariat, obviously unaware of diplomatic niceties, said the fruits would not be accepted.

It was a bit of a brain teaser for the Customs. Unlike other items not cleared, they could not detain the mangoes and auc- tion them. Within days they would be spoilt. So they did the next best thing - had a feast of mangoes. Just last week, Premier Shariff also sent a box full of mangoes to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Despite the increasingly tense relations between Islamabad and New Delhi, the mangoes were accepted. It was the same week that Islamabad accused India of sending a spy plane to their territory in Kashmir.

In August 1988, the then Pakistani President General Zia uI Haq flew in a Hercules C-130 aircraft to Bhawalpur for a military ceremony. The then US Ambassador, Arnold C. Raphel, flew in his Embassy's Cessna aircraft for the same event.

Gen. Zia invited Ambassador Raphel to return to Islamabad on his C-130 identified as Pak One. He said those accompanying him on the flight could have a mango party. Raphel agreed and joined President Zia. However, the aircraft exploded in mid- air killing all on board.