DNA
ISLAMABAD: The Romanian Embassy in Islamabad, with the support of Pakistani authorities, successfully completed a complex repatriation operation for a group of five Romanian citizens who were in the mountainous northern regions of Pakistan.
The diplomatic mission was notified about the presence of the five Romanians in the Hushe Valley (Gilgit-Baltistan), a remote area in the Karakoram Mountains with altitudes exceeding 7,000 meters. This region is currently considered highly sensitive from a security perspective.
Amid recent regional developments—including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and heightened security issues along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border—their evacuation became a priority.
The five Romanian citizens entered Pakistan on February 24 this year and only recently contacted the Romanian Embassy in Islamabad to request assistance for extraction from the area and repatriation. The embassy had not been previously informed of their presence in the region.
With the assistance of authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan, local police, and representatives of the Pakistani army, the embassy located and evacuated the group via the route from Hushe Valley to Gilgit and then to Islamabad. The logistics and security operation lasted over 48 hours. The Romanian citizens were subsequently safely boarded on a flight from Islamabad to Istanbul and are now en route to Cluj-Napoca.
The embassy expressed gratitude to the local authorities, police, and Pakistani army for their prompt, professional support and excellent cooperation extended to the Romanian citizens and the embassy in this situation. Special thanks were also extended to the consular team of the Romanian mission, which acted with responsibility and professionalism, as always.
The embassy reiterated its recommendation to Romanian citizens in Pakistan to closely monitor travel alerts from Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), stay informed about local developments, and take enhanced personal safety measures: remain vigilant, avoid crowded areas, and ensure they are registered with the Romanian Embassy in Islamabad.
This operation highlights effective bilateral cooperation between Romania and Pakistan in consular matters, particularly in challenging and remote terrains amid broader regional tensions.
