Remembering Larsen, the late ambassador of Norway

ISLAMABAD: Little did the late ambassador of Norway, Leif H Larsen, know as he sent out invitation cards to celebrate the Norwegian Constitution Day on May 18 that he would not be around to welcome his guests in Islamabad.
Larsen lost his life last Friday morning as the Mi-17 helicopter he was flying in, with his colleagues from the diplomatic community crashed in the Naltar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan moments before it was to land.
The Norwegian Constitution Day celebrations always drew large crowds to the function as Larsen was by now well known for his continued efforts in expanding cooperation in various fields.
Just lately, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende had visited Islamabad where both the countries had agreed to further expand cooperation.On Monday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recommended Sitara-e-Pakistan for the Norwegian ambassador.
Presently a delegation from Norway is in the town assisting doctors at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi in carrying out DNA tests of Ambassador Larsen.Cabinet member Lt Gen (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch will accompany the body of the late ambassador to Norway.
Earlier, speaking at a ceremony at the Foreign Office, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo Martin Saravia said the tour of diplomats was arranged at his request to appreciate beauty of the northern Pakistan and pay tributes to those engaged in operation Zarb-e-Azb.
He categorically stated that the accident was caused by technical and mechanical failure of the helicopter. He said by no means there was an iota of possibility of act of terrorism or sabotage.