Amarjit Singh Dulat, former chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), offered Pakistan a heartfelt compliment that resonated across the border: “Pakistani hospitality cannot be matched. We cannot match it. I enjoyed it a lot.”
Speaking to Geo News from London, Dulat congratulated Field Marshal Asim Munir on his recent luncheon with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. He saw the event as a sign of improving diplomacy and urged similar gestures between India and Pakistan. But what truly stood out during his remarks was his praise for Pakistan’s warmth and welcome.
“I am the only intelligence chief who visited Pakistan four times after retirement. Between 2010–2012 I visited four times. Pakistani hospitality cannot be matched”
Amarjit Singh Dulat
That kind of tribute carries weight, coming from someone once at the helm of India’s foremost spy agency. Respectful acknowledgement like this plants seeds of trust and breaks down stereotypes, reminding us that cultural exchanges can thrive even when governments falter.
Dulat didn’t shy away from politics during the conversation. He praised the White House lunch as a “major development” in U.S.–Pakistan ties and suggested that such openness could and should extend to relations with India. “If it can happen in Washington, why not in Delhi?” he reasoned .
What I find particularly striking is how hospitality—as a cultural value—can play a soft yet profound role in diplomacy. Pakistan’s spirit of welcoming guests, guests like Dulat, shapes perceptions beyond borders. These gestures soften impressions and open doors for dialogue, including between longtime rivals.
Amarjit Singh Dulat praises Pakistan:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLH4SaSoTi4/?igsh=MXJkbmV6YWduMHBvMA==
Reflecting as an education writer, this moment underscores teaching the importance of intercultural empathy. Students of diplomacy, history, and culture can learn so much here: humility, respect, and the simple act of hospitality can transcend division.
It’s worth noting how Dulat juxtaposed praise with purpose. He urged ongoing dialogue over conflict, recalled his own friendships—like the one with former ISI chief General Asad Durrani—and reminded audiences that people-to-people connections matter .
These ideas serve as tangible lessons in classrooms. Political tensions need not tunnel every interaction. Even in sensitive contexts, small, heartfelt actions—invitation to dinner, setting out a good meal, showing respect—can shift attitudes. That’s a principle any educator would wish to instill.
So, what can we take away? When a former RAW chief is moved by hospitality, we see the soft power of culture in action. For Pakistani students studying international relations, it’s a reminder: humanity can be the foundation for policy. For Indian readers, it offers hope that despite challenges, goodwill transcends.
In the end, it comes down to this: real diplomacy often begins at the dinner table. Through kindness and courtesy, we build bridges—one warm moment at a time.
