Shots fired during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner jolted a carefully guarded event, despite layers of protection. US President Donald Trump was evacuated and the episode showed how even advanced systems can falter. In contrast, recent weeks saw Pakistan quietly host sensitive engagements between the US and Iran amid a fragile ceasefire. Senior delegations moved discreetly, routes stayed secure and meetings proceeded without disruption or spectacle. This happened in a country managing pressures from Afghanistan and India, while sustaining a long counterterrorism campaign at home.
Yet security for dignitaries remained seamless and unobtrusive. The comparison is not about scoring points but about recognising a capability forged by necessity. Pakistan’s security culture is adaptive, disciplined and battle-tested. Security is not a slogan or a show of force. It is vigilance, anticipation and quiet effectiveness.
Dr Zafar Khan Safdar
Islamabad
