About Us
Attached Agencies
Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché
The Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (OPhilDAFA) Pakistan holds a storied legacy within the Philippine Foreign Service, currently led by the 9th Defense and Armed Forces Attaché since its inception. Originally established in 1957 following the opening of the Philippine Mission in Karachi, the office served as a cornerstone of bilateral military relations for over five decades. Although the post was deactivated on 31 December 2013, it was strategically reactivated on 16 February 2020 to meet evolving regional security needs. Since its opening, the office has operated under a standard three-year tour of duty, ensuring a continuous and robust defense partnership between the Philippines and Pakistan.
Governed by the regulatory framework of DFA Joint Circular No. 01-2015 dated 04 June 2015, titled “Guidelines on the Assignment of Representatives of Partner Agencies to Philippine Foreign Service Posts,” the OPhilDAFA executes a multi-faceted mandate centered on diplomacy, intelligence, and administrative leadership. As the senior representative of the Secretary of National Defense (SND) and the Chief of Staff, AFP (CSAFP), the Attaché actively promotes military diplomacy and mutual cooperation with the Armed Forces of Pakistan and international counterparts. Under the One-Country Team Approach (OCTA), the office collaborates with the Philippine Foreign Mission to strengthen ties with foreign dignitaries and maintain a prominent AFP presence through high-level diplomatic, military, and social engagements. Consequently, the OPhilDAFA serves as the frontline in developing and securing Philippine defense relations.
In addition to its representative role, the OPhilDAFA provides critical advisory and technical services, acting as the principal military adviser to the Chief of Mission (Ambassador) on all matters requiring professional defense expertise. In the domains of intelligence and security, the office is responsible for managing strategic information vital to Philippine national interests, providing expert oversight on security measures for the Embassy compound, and conducting essential due diligence and procurement supervision. These responsibilities are supported by comprehensive administrative functions, including the supervision of all AFP personnel within the area of accreditation and the efficient logistical and fiscal management of the OPhilDAFA in Islamabad.
Office of the Police Attaché
The Office of the Police Attaché (OPA) in Pakistan represents a vital pillar of the Philippines’ international security architecture, grounded in a long-standing tradition of bilateral law enforcement cooperation. This partnership was formally solidified on 15 December 1995 through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of the Interior of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This landmark agreement established a unified framework for combating all forms of criminal activity, with a strategic focus on neutralizing terrorism, transnational crimes, and organized criminal networks.
Governed by the principles of international police cooperation and national institutional mandates, the OPA operates as the primary representative of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG), the Chairman of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), and the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). In alignment with the One-Country Team Approach (OCTA), the Police Attaché serves as the principal police adviser to the Chief of Mission (Ambassador), providing specialized expertise on security, law enforcement, and internal stability. Through high-level liaison with the host country’s police and law enforcement agencies, the office ensures that Philippine national interests are safeguarded while fostering mutual professional development in police administration, training, and operations.
The mandate of the OPA is executed through a comprehensive operational framework encompassing diplomacy, strategic intelligence, and protective services. In the realm of intelligence and security, the office is responsible for the systematic collection and evaluation of information vital to Philippine national security, particularly regarding emerging threats such as cybercrime and global terrorism. Beyond its intelligence functions, the OPA maintains a rigorous protective mandate, conducting regular Security Surveys and Inspections (SSI) of the Embassy compound and providing essential assistance to Filipino nationals facing police-related emergencies. These efforts are reinforced by robust administrative and logistical oversight, including fiscal management, procurement supervision, and the conduct of essential due diligence for the Philippine National Police within its area of accreditation.
