Afghan envoy complains PIA misplaced his luggage twice this week

E-Paper | October 02, 2026

Afghan envoy complains PIA misplaced his luggage twice this week

Dawn.com Naveed Siddiqui Published October 25, 2018

Afghan Ambassador Dr Omar Zakhilwal on Thursday said that his luggage had gone missing on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Islamabad to Kabul for a second time this week. — File

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Afghanistan's Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal on Thursday claimed that his luggage had been misplaced by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) twice this week as he travelled from Islamabad to Kabul.

Expressing his annoyance in a tweet, Zakhilwal said: "Second time in a row in a week my suitcase goes missing on Islamabad-Kabul PIA flight and then ends up in UK. Could it be just coincidental mismanagement?"

PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said that a complaint has been lodged by the passenger and the matter is being investigated.

Later in the day, Tajwar told Dawn.com that the missing suitcase has been located and will be delivered to the Afghan envoy in Kabul tomorrow.

The PIA official said that Zakhilwal's suitcase was wrongly checked into PK-791 flight for Birmingham, which departs nearly half-an-hour ahead of the PIA's flight for Kabul, which the Afghan envoy was to board.

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Anjum - KSA

Oct 25, 2018 05:23pm

Mr. Ambassador, I often travel through some of the top airlines, my luggage has been misplaced many times. It happens. Please don't assume everything to be negative!!

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 25, 2018 05:23pm

This happens and could happen with any and all airlines of the world.

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BhaRAT

Oct 25, 2018 05:29pm

In july 2018 I traveled from Hong Kong to christchurch with friends in Qantas airways and I got my luggage after three days so it happens sometimes there’s no need to make a big deal out of it

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Hamza

Oct 25, 2018 05:41pm

Yea lets see how good Afghan airlines is

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Jjacky

Oct 25, 2018 06:12pm

Why r u travelling thru pia, better use pakistan's private airlines.

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Ahmad

Oct 25, 2018 06:19pm

@BhaRAT 2 times in a week is too much

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ABE

Oct 25, 2018 06:20pm

Why single out PIA? Unless you have choice of other top international carriers which fly to Kabul!? NOT! My luggage has been lost by a number of Europea, MEastern and American air carriers over the years, So PIA is not unique with this problem. It can happen even with the best of them: Singapore Airline, Emirates, Lufthansa, Cathey Pacific, Qantars and Japan Airlines etc..

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Shahzad

Oct 25, 2018 06:21pm

We still fly to kabul

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Oct 25, 2018 06:26pm

First loss was due to PIA incompetence. The 2nd loss was due to your incompetence for flying PIA again.

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Pak-uk

Oct 25, 2018 06:40pm

All they do is CoMPLaint.. about everything about anything.

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Naveed

Oct 25, 2018 06:49pm

Dear Ambassador this is a common problem faced by all of us. In fact due to this reason I have stopped flying by PIA. I hope with the new government there will be changes that will fix this airline.

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ZAF

Oct 25, 2018 06:56pm

Mr. Ambassador , Please raise this issue at UN form next,

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RJM

Oct 25, 2018 07:01pm

Everyone knows where that luggage went and for what purpose. They won't dare to do that to the envoy of China.

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anwarsher

Oct 25, 2018 07:06pm

Do not travel next time. As they say: fool me once shame on you; foul me twice shame on shame.

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Maria enteparia onnuchoriu

Oct 25, 2018 07:21pm

Incompetence.

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Maria enteparia onnuchoriu

Oct 25, 2018 07:22pm

@ga , who else fly this route?

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Himmat

Oct 25, 2018 07:31pm

Getting luggage misplaced is rare event. Ambassador should change airline

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Abdulla KSA

Oct 25, 2018 07:42pm

Be careful about your money purse and luggage.

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M. Saeed

Oct 25, 2018 07:50pm

@Jjacky: Only PIA goes to Kabul from Islamabad.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Oct 25, 2018 07:57pm

Then don't travel on PIA. I have never seen any Afghan official praising Pakistan for what we have done as a nation for them. It is only complaints. For PIA please improve the quality of your services. It is a matter of national image.

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Vinod

Oct 25, 2018 08:14pm

He is a diplomat.

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Sacchai

Oct 25, 2018 08:19pm

@BhaRAT Thanks for letting us know you travel international.

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Javed

Oct 25, 2018 08:28pm

I have been traveling internationally for over 30 years and my baggage was delayed only once. The Ambassador’s case is strange indeed.

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Shehzada Rana

Oct 25, 2018 08:43pm

He himself can be responsible for that. Why he is flying with Pia?

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The Last Picture Show

Oct 25, 2018 08:55pm

@Maria enteparia onnuchoriu ... I'd say theft, not incompetence.

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Hedonist

Oct 25, 2018 09:09pm

@ga Good one !

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GHALIBJEEE

Oct 25, 2018 09:45pm

I will never trust the Afghans

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Alla Bux

Oct 25, 2018 09:51pm

@Anjum - KSA You are just a common man but Ambassador is different. His luggage is handled or should be handled differently. In fact, when I fly First or Business my luggage is tagged 'priority' and is taken out first and handled differently. I never had lost luggage so far in decades of flying. A diplomat's luggage should be handled even better unless someone in our Government is involved.

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Shehzada Rana

Oct 25, 2018 10:14pm

And what about your luggage misplaced thrice? Keep complaining Mr Ambassador.

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shaffiq

Oct 25, 2018 10:30pm

Only twice !...how lucky you are.

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Oct 25, 2018 10:49pm

Last year i had the same experience with Emirates. Mr. ambassador this nothing new in today's travel.

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lion

Oct 25, 2018 10:49pm

he should travel on his best friends airline. India air. Don't come here

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Zeb Khan

Oct 25, 2018 10:57pm

Not misplaced, deliberately sent elsewhere to send a message to Afghan diplomat as a form of protest; remember that Afghan atrocity where high rank persons killed by their own guard and Afghans blamed Pakistan for a crime committed by their own people; Pakistan is telling diplomat dont accuse us for your own countrys shortcomings and failures.

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Iqbal Malik

Oct 25, 2018 11:22pm

It looks deliberate, sorry.

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Zak

Oct 25, 2018 11:28pm

PIA needs a clean up.

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Desi

Oct 25, 2018 11:29pm

Losing luggage is a common occurrence when you try by air. Every airline has this problem. Perhaps the Ambassador should travel in private charter plane, his luggage will never be lost.

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Omar

Oct 25, 2018 11:33pm

Twice in a row is excessive, but then it's PIA !

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Lahori kid

Oct 26, 2018 12:11am

Embarrassing for Pakistan, boy this PIA cannot do anything right. having said that, it does happen some times with all airlines, unfortunately it happens often with PIA, at least they put him on the right flight, he should be glad he didn't end up in London like his luggage.

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Shubs

Oct 26, 2018 12:22am

If I were the Afghan Ambassador, I would send the luggage for forensic examination for listening and tracking devices and get myself a new suitcase!

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Shubs

Oct 26, 2018 12:24am

@LION "India Air"? Is that a new airline you set up? Do tell!

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John

Oct 26, 2018 01:06am

@Zeb Khan Interesting forum of protest which reflects as a weakness of PIA. Great job!!

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Asghar a Rizvi

Oct 26, 2018 01:41am

Nothing to make news about.

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Alla Bux

Oct 26, 2018 01:48am

This appears deliberate. He is traveling on diplomatic passport. Who could have done that? Anyone?

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Akil Akhtar

Oct 26, 2018 03:23am

Go and don't come back

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loe

Oct 26, 2018 07:19am

Are you surprised Mr. Ambassador? PIA the worst airline to say the least...

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Anjum Khan USA

Oct 26, 2018 07:25am

@ga you are so right bro

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Anjum Khan USA

Oct 26, 2018 07:27am

@Alla Bux exactly what I ment

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Leoman

Oct 26, 2018 07:56am

That's the speciality of PIA. Though it can happen and happens with almost all airlines but the ratio record of PIA would be great.

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Suraj71

Oct 27, 2018 09:57pm

No statement from PIA.. No respect for customer?? Such arlinem management should be brought to the book..

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