A seasoned career diplomat with postings across Europe, the Middle East, the Gulf, and the Far East, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Hungary reflects on his early impressions of Budapest, the evolution of bilateral relations, Pakistan’s linguistic diversity, and the pressing challenges of climate change. Interview with H. E. Asif Hussain Memon, guest of the Ambassadorial Forum to be held on September 24th.
Career diplomat, previously served in Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, and the Gulf Region. Now in Hungary. When did you first form impressions of Hungary?
Before being posted here, I was working in the Ministry headquarters and came to Budapest in November 2022. But that was not my first visit to Hungary. During one of my earlier posting in Vienna, I often came to Budapest on weekends. It was close, and it was always exciting to explore a new country. Budapest immediately struck me as unique, with its own distinct culture, its two sides divided by the Danube, and its remarkable atmosphere. I even used to bring friends from Vienna here, and Budapest was always a favourite destination. Of course, when I came here in November 2022, it was in a very different situation: officially representing my country. I still recall the warmth and friendliness of the people and the way we were received.
Have your perceptions of Hungary and Hungarians changed during your time in Budapest?
Very much so. In Pakistan, we hear more about Western Europe, where large Pakistani communities live—in countries like France, Italy, and Germany—and where we have extensive government and business contacts. Eastern Europe, by contrast, is still less familiar to many Pakistanis.
So when I was first posted here, there was a certain uncertainty—what would we find, how would Hungarians interact with diplomats, would we have the necessary space to work effectively, and would they be receptive? Since my arrival, my perception has completely changed. Over these three years, I have never faced obstacles. On the contrary, whenever we have had fresh proposals, discussions, or meetings, we have always found the Hungarian side open and welcoming. This is truly one of the greatest advantages of working in Budapest.
What is your impression—how much do Hungarians know, or not know, about Pakistan?
Just as I said earlier, in our region we know little about Eastern Europe, including Hungary. I would say the same is true in reverse—Hungarians do not know as much about Pakistan as they should. However, awareness is growing. We established diplomatic relations in 1965, but for decades very little was done to strengthen them. Only in the past eight to nine years have we seen real progress. This year has been particularly important, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Hungary—a milestone event.
According to your biography, Your Excellency speaks English, Russian, Urdu, and Sindhi. What should Hungarians know about Urdu, Sindhi, and Pakistan’s diverse ethnic, religious, and linguistic groups?
When Pakistan gained independence, it had four provinces, each with its own language, culture, and traditions. I come from Sindh, a southern province on the seashore, so my mother tongue is Sindhi. Sindhi is one of Pakistan’s many languages. Urdu, however, is our national language, and beyond that, there are over 50 other languages spoken, some of them in northern areas bordering China and Afghanistan.
Are these languages similar?
Not at all. They are often mutually unintelligible. Pakistan is a fascinating linguistic mosaic. For example, if I travel to a province bordering Afghanistan, I cannot understand the local language—it is entirely different.
Is there a common official language?
Yes, Urdu. It is spoken everywhere as the national language, though it is relatively new compared to the ancient regional languages. Urdu began about 500 years ago, influenced by Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Sindhi, and Punjabi. It emerged when the Mughal armies—comprising soldiers of many nationalities—needed a common means of communication. Out of that mix, Urdu was born.
In August, Pakistan experienced devastating floods and landslides. How frequent are such disasters, and how severely is Pakistan affected by climate change?
This is a critical issue. Outside the North and South Poles, Pakistan has the largest number of glaciers in the world. As an agriculture-based country, we rely heavily on one of the world’s largest river systems. But rainfall is decreasing, putting enormous strain on agriculture. Deforestation in mountain areas has worsened the situation.
Since 2005, rising temperatures have caused accelerated glacier melt, coupled with torrential monsoon rains. This combination leads to glacier outburst floods—a sudden rush of water from the mountains. The frequency of such disasters is increasing: 2005, 2010, 2022 were catastrophic years. In 2022, the flooded area was nearly the size of the United Kingdom. It destroyed homes, infrastructure, crops, and displaced millions. This year also we are witnessing excessive rainfall leading to flooding in many parts of Pakistan. We are not major producers of industrial pollution, yet we are the biggest victims of climate change.
Does the government have a strategy?
A number of initiatives have been launched to restore natural balance including awareness and reforestation. Pakistan hosted a climate conference in Geneva in 2023 and actively participates in global climate summits. Our message is clear: we are not major polluters, but we are suffering the consequences—and if action is not taken, it will affect everyone. Even here in Hungary, one can already see drier conditions. Climate change is a shared challenge, and we must face it together.
As Ambassador to Hungary since the end of 2022, how do you assess Pakistani–Hungarian bilateral cooperation so far?
The breakthrough between Pakistan and Hungary relations came with Prime Minister Viktor Oran’s policy of “Eastern Opening.” Since 2017, the bilateral relations gained momentum in all areas. There has been regular high-level visits. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Excellency Peter Szijjarto visited Pakistan in April 2021. It was reciprocated by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan’s visit to Hungary in February 2023, which was the first-ever visit from Pakistan at the Foreign Minister level. This year, as we celebrate 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, a number of high-level engagements took place already. This includes visit of Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in April, meeting of Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation in February, visit of the Speaker National Assembly to Hungary in February. A number of Hungarian companies have already signed agreements with Pakistani companies in various sectors. MOL’s operations in Pakistan are one of the highlights in our economic cooperation. MOL’s success story can serve as a motivation for other Hungarian Companies to invest in Pakistan. Last year, MOL celebrated 25 years of its operations in Pakistan and it continues to be one of the most profitable venture for MOL.
A very important link in the bilateral relations is the presence of Pakistani students pursuing higher studies in various Hungarian universities. This has been made possible due to Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme. Since 2017, Hungarian universities have become increasingly popular among Pakistani youths and we deeply appreciate the scholarship program. It is also important to mention that various Hungarian companies have employed guest workers from Pakistan and these companies are very satisfied with the professionalism of Pakistani workers.
What are your personal and professional goals in Hungary for the coming years?
Professionally, I wish to further deepen bilateral cooperation. Hungary has outstanding expertise in agriculture, food processing, and water management—areas where Pakistan still lags behind. These are precisely the sectors where we see great potential for collaboration, and I believe much more can be achieved together.
Cover picture. depositphotos.com
