[🇵🇰] Who guards Pakistani embassies and consulates around the world?

[ThunderCat]

Source : https://www.PKDefense.com

I know for America it's the marines. For Germany it's the federal police. Likewise for Canada.

I visited a German consulate in Pakistan over a month ago.

They had their federal cops there even outside the premise carrying handguns and tasers on their belts and in full federal police uniforms.

They didn't like me asking invasive questions but I had my own concerns about foreign cops wearing full uniforms on a public street of a sovereign country without having their Pakistani licenses on them.

Anyhow, that got me wondering how our embassies and consulates are guarded worldwide.

I know that in first world countries with minimum crime like Sweden (although that is changing drastically) have no guards at their embassies.

But what about third world countries in Africa or Southeast Asia? Do our embassies/consulates incorporate Rangers or national guards (?) to do security duties?

 

[Lulldapull]

I saw our embassy in London last year and the PTI people were all protesting in a huge mob. There was no security except UK tommy pommy police without weapons. Protest was well behaved and there was no violence.

 

[Old School]

It is clearly stated in the Vienna convention that the local police of the host country must provide security. Western / foreign governments never allow us to deploy Pakistani forces to secure the embassy perimeters of our diplomatic missions in western countries or other countries . However, our slave government allows everything which rich countries can ask for, sometimes even more. So, to answer your question, we do not send security personnel to guard our diplomatic missions abroad as per the Vienna Convention.

 

[ThunderCat]

It is clearly stated in the Vienna convention that the local police of the host country must provide security. Western / foreign governments never allow us to deploy Pakistani forces to secure the embassy perimeters of our diplomatic missions in western countries or other countries . However, our slave government allows everything which rich countries can ask for, sometimes even more. So, to answer your question, we do not send security personnel to guard our diplomatic missions abroad as per the Vienna Convention.

How can that be? The convention does not hold exceptions for certain countries and restrict others, although I could be wrong. I admittingly have not read much on this.

What I saw at the German consulate concerned me a bit and my questions concerned the policemen that they kept avoiding me. Even in Europeans countries, the Germans have their cops on the embassy/consulate premises.

I've also seen them trying to resist locals who film them.

I saw footage of our consulates in Great Britain. Seeing the high crime rates involving knives and liquor, we would be entitled to have our armed policemen or rangers within the embassy premise to ward off any potential troublemakers.

I saw pics of our embassy in an East European country about 18 years back and we did have national guard personnel deployed there within embassy grounds while local law enforcement had a tiny station outside the gate.

 

[Old School]

How can that be? The convention does not hold exceptions for certain countries and restrict others.

What I saw at the German consulate concerned me a bit and my questions concerned the policemen that they kept avoiding me. Even in Europeans countries, the Germans have their cops on the embassy/consulate premises.

I've also seen them trying to resist locals who film them.

I saw footage of our consulates in Great Britain. Seeing the high crime rates involving knives and liquor, we would be entitled to have our armed policemen or rangers within the embassy premise to ward off any potential troublemakers.

I saw pics of our embassy in an East European country about 18 years back and we did have national guard personnel deployed there within embassy grounds while local law enforcement had a tiny station outside the gate.

The Vienna Convention has nothing to do with two countries being willing to make exceptions. It only stipulates the responsibility of the host countries' security arrangements for foreign missions. Have you ever seen a US marine or German Feds in their Moscow/ Beijing Embassy or vice versa? That is not going to happen. It is a fact. If you have questions regarding Pakistan FO , you can ask me, as I am in a position to answer them.

 

[ThunderCat]

The Vienna Convention has nothing to do with two countries being willing to make exceptions. It only stipulates the responsibility of the host countries' security arrangements for foreign missions. Have you ever seen a US marine or German Feds in their Moscow/ Beijing Embassy or vice versa? That is not going to happen. It is a fact. If you have questions regarding Pakistan FO , you can ask me, as I am in a position to answer them.

Americans have marines at their Moscow embassy. As did we have our national guards within embassy grounds there. Don't know if that's the case anymore. French surprisingly don't have their forces at our Karachi consulate, at least according to what a friend who took us to the German feast there told me.

Marines and perhaps private security contractors are present in most embassies. Even the Germans have their federal police at their American and European consulates/embassies.

 

[Old School]

Americans have marines at their Moscow embassy. As did we have our national guards within embassy grounds there. Don't know if that's the case anymore. French surprisingly don't have their forces at our Karachi consulate, at least according to what a friend who took us to the German feast there told me.

Marines and perhaps private security contractors are present in most embassies. Event he Germans have their federal police at their American and European consulates/embassies.

There is no Pakistani armed guard at the Moscow embassy. Those US Marines Guards in Moscow are part of regional Security Office (RSO) in diplomatic capacity, and they do not and are not allowed to carry weapons. Again, it all depends on the host countries.

 

[ThunderCat]

There is no Pakistani armed guard at the Moscow embassy. Those US Marines Guards in Moscow are part of regional Security Office (RSO) in diplomatic capacity, and they do not and are not allowed to carry weapons. Again, it all depends on the host countries.

There were Pakistani uniformed guards within the Moscow embassy. I myself saw their pics in 2006. Weather they carried firearms or not, I do not know. I also have no idea if they are still there.

 

[Old School]

There were Pakistani uniformed guards within the Moscow embassy. I myself saw their pics in 2006. Weather they carried firearms or not, I do not know. I also have no idea if they are still there.

We do not have the personnel or budget to guard our foreign diplomatic missions. That is the official position of the MOFA.

 

[ThunderCat]

We do not have the personnel or budget to guard our foreign diplomatic missions. That is the official position of the MOFA.

And that's fair enough. Even though if we might have in the past. Since we did, I would like to see some pics and non-classified details of them. I wish I had saved those pics.

 

[ThunderCat]

We do not have the personnel or budget to guard our foreign diplomatic missions. That is the official position of the MOFA.

And as I wrote, I agree, but are there any archive images of these embassy guards?

 

[Lulldapull]

Here in Japan I went to Pakistan embassy in Tokyo with my Japanese wife a long while ago to renew my passport/ NICOP card and the consul general sahb was such a nice man he invited us for tea/ coffee/ biscuit, told us all da drama in our very tightened financial situation.........And there wasn't a single security person here in Tokyo.......Totally safe crime free country this Japan. Pakistan is an old friend of Japan and its an amicable relationship between our two countries. Donations da dubba entrance te rakhya hae ga….. I put money in it to help out. Building de marammat, lawn/ landscaping grounds keeping needed some help. Paint and upkeep…..if you are in a position to help improve the image of your country then do it….. carorron dollar nu lay kar qabar main jaana hae? Go help the Pakistani missions overseas if you are overseas Pakistani because our country is in a jam.

 

[ThunderCat]

Here in Japan I went to Pakistan embassy in Tokyo with my Japanese wife a long while ago to renew my passport/ NICOP card and the consul general sahb was such a nice man he invited us for tea/ coffee/ biscuit, told us all da drama in our very tightened financial situation.........And there wasn't a single security person here in Tokyo.......Totally safe crime free country this Japan. Pakistan is an old friend of Japan and its an amicable relationship between our two countries. Donations da dubba entrance te rakhya hae ga….. I put money in it to help out. Building de marammat, lawn/ landscaping grounds keeping needed some help. Paint and upkeep…..if you are in a position to help improve the image of your country then do it….. carorron dollar nu lay kar qabar main jaana hae? Go help the Pakistani missions overseas if you are overseas Pakistani because our country is in a jam.

No need for embassy guards in Japan. Or Switzerland of Gulf states. Those are some of the last places i'd seek guards in. But there are countries that would probably require it.

 

[Azad Kashmir]

security for zardaris and sharifs must be enormous budget cost at the tax payer.

 

[Old School]

security for zardaris and sharifs must be enormous budget cost at the tax payer.

You need security only if you have enemies or you have done harm to people. Pakistan has no real enemy outside Pakistan. Pakistan’s enemies live inside Pakistan and there is no security for Pakistani people from those enemies.

 

[ThunderCat]

@Old School here is a pic of the Pak embassy at Jakarta. The blue hat officer is what I saw on the personnel at the Moscow embassy:

 

[Old School]

@Old School here is a pic of the Pak embassy at Jakarta. The blue hat officer is what I saw on the personnel at the Moscow embassy:

They are not officially Jakarta Embassy staff except the Colonel, who is the defense attache. I have a similar image of the Moscow embassy below. You will also see that even Air Force and Navy officers are there. They are not part of the Embassy staff either.

 

[ThunderCat]

They are not officially Jakarta Embassy staff except the Colonel, who is the defense attache. I have a similar image of the Moscow embassy below. You will also see that even Air Force and Navy officers are there. They are not part of the Embassy staff either.

So just to clarify, they are not tasked with guarding the embassy premise? Are the defense attache' the military wing of the embassy representing the military there?

 

[Old School]

So just to clarify, they are not tasked with guarding the embassy premise? Are the defense attache' the military wing of the embassy representing the military there?

They are not guards. The defense attaché advises the ambassadors on all military matters. He is basically the defense advisor to the embassy. He can have his own staff as needed.

 

[ThunderCat]

Here is what I got from AI on who would be guarding Pakistani embassies theoretically. And it was correct for me to assume it is the Federal Constabulary:

The theoretical suitability of an agency for guarding Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad depends on a nuanced understanding of their mandates, training, and operational capabilities. While all three mentioned agencies—the Pakistan Rangers, the Frontier Corps (FC), and the Federal Constabulary (FCY)—have security roles within Pakistan, their suitability for international diplomatic protection varies significantly.
For guarding Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad, the most suitable agency would theoretically be a specialized unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a highly trained and vetted contingent from the Federal Constabulary (FCY), provided it receives specific training for international diplomatic protection and operates under the direct purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Let's break down why, considering the roles of each agency:

Pakistan Rangers​

The Pakistan Rangers are a paramilitary force primarily responsible for border security, internal security, and aiding civil administration in maintaining law and order within Pakistan, particularly in Sindh and Punjab provinces.[1] Their training focuses on counter-terrorism, anti-smuggling operations, and crowd control within a domestic context.[2] While they possess significant security capabilities, their mandate and operational experience are largely confined to Pakistan's borders and internal security challenges. Deploying them abroad for diplomatic protection would require a significant shift in their operational doctrine, international legal training, and understanding of diplomatic protocols, which are distinct from their current roles.[3] Furthermore, their primary role as a border force might lead to perceptions of a more militarized presence, which is generally avoided in diplomatic settings unless absolutely necessary.

Frontier Corps (FC)​

The Frontier Corps is another paramilitary force, primarily operating in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, with a focus on border security, counter-insurgency, and maintaining law and order in tribal areas.[4] Similar to the Rangers, their training and operational experience are deeply rooted in the specific security challenges of Pakistan's western borders and tribal regions.[5] Their expertise lies in rugged terrain operations and dealing with non-state actors within a domestic or border context. Deploying FC personnel for diplomatic protection abroad would present similar challenges to the Rangers, including a lack of specific training in international diplomatic law, protocol, and the nuances of protecting diplomatic premises in foreign jurisdictions.[6] Their operational methods, while effective in their designated areas, might not align with the delicate nature of international diplomatic security.

Federal Constabulary (FCY)​

The Federal Constabulary (FCY) is a relatively newer force, established with the primary objective of protecting federal government installations and personnel within Pakistan.[7] Its mandate is more aligned with static guard duties and the protection of sensitive sites. While still primarily a domestic force, its focus on federal assets makes it theoretically more adaptable to the requirements of diplomatic protection abroad compared to the Rangers or FC.[8]


The FCY's suitability hinges on several critical factors:

• Specialized Training: For international diplomatic missions, the FCY would need to establish a highly specialized unit dedicated to diplomatic protection. This unit would require extensive training in international law, diplomatic immunity, host nation laws, cultural sensitivity, advanced close protection techniques, threat assessment specific to diplomatic environments, and crisis management in foreign territories.[9]
• Operational Mandate: Its mandate would need to be expanded to explicitly include the protection of Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad, with clear lines of command and control under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[10]
• Vetting and Selection: Personnel selected for such a unit would need rigorous vetting, psychological evaluations, and a high level of professionalism to represent Pakistan effectively on foreign soil.[11]
• Coordination with Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Unlike the Rangers or FC, which fall under the Ministry of Interior, the FCY, or a specialized unit derived from it, would need to operate in very close coordination with, and potentially under the direct operational control of, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure adherence to diplomatic norms and foreign policy objectives.[12]

In conclusion, while the Rangers and FC are vital for Pakistan's internal and border security, their operational mandates and training are not inherently suited for the complexities of international diplomatic protection. The Federal Constabulary, being a force focused on protecting federal assets, has a more adaptable foundation. However, its suitability for guarding diplomatic missions abroad would depend entirely on the establishment of a highly specialized, well-trained, and internationally oriented unit within its structure, operating under the direct guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This would ensure that the security provided is not only effective but also compliant with international law and diplomatic protocols.

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