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ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy in Pakistan complained on Thursday that its diplomats are being detained during their visits to different parts of the country.
The spokesman at the US embassy, while pointing to the security of US diplomats, called for immediate action by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide security to its diplomatic and consular missions in Pakistan.
The US mission to Pakistan is concerned about the continued provocative actions and false allegations against US personnel working to implement the new partnership between the leaders of Pakistan and the United States, the US spokesman said.
While there have been dozens of incidents involving Pakistani security personnel and US diplomats with complaints that these diplomats did not have their vehicle papers in place, the US embassy on Thursday pointed to a particular incident in Gwadar.
In the most recent incident, on January 6, 2010, a US Consulate General vehicle with two Pakistani employees of the Consulate and their Sindh police constable escort were detained on Wednesday when travelling in Gwadar. The staff was preparing for the upcoming visit of US development assistance staff to one of Pakistans most impoverished regions. The US Embassy emphasises that all US vehicles in Pakistan are appropriately registered with the Pakistani authorities and carry at all times full documentation attesting to their legal status. The two Consulate employees and their police escort were carrying all the required documents and had met in Turbat with the Police commissioner as part of their work, complained the US embassy spokesman.
When contacted, the spokesman at the Foreign Office told The News: As regards this particular incident, we are awaiting a detailed report from the Ministry of Interior. As for new licence plates, these have been issued to some missions and the US embassy vehicles will be issued soon. Security check of cars with fake plates shows how diligent and efficient our personnel are. We expect cooperation and understanding from all foreign missions in their own security.
The US spokesman said that the US Mission renews its call on the government of Pakistan officials to implement immediately the mutually agreed upon procedures for the issuance of licence plates to US Mission vehicles and to cease these contrived incidents involving US Mission vehicles and personnel.
The spokesman at the Foreign Office said, It is indeed our duty to provide security to diplomatic and consular missions in Islamabad and facilitate them. Given exceptional circumstances, the government has taken several measures and continues to consider further steps in consultation with the foreign missions in Islamabad.
Speaking in Karachi on Thursday, US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to provide proper arrangements in order to address the security concerns of foreign diplomats. The ambassador offered assurances that American diplomats and their staff will comply with all government procedures, but that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet implemented the agreed upon procedures.
AP adds: The rare public protest reflects the rising frustration among US officials over alleged Pakistani efforts to stymie Washingtons moves to add hundreds more staff and more space to its embassy in Islamabad.
US officials say they need more room and people to help disburse a $7.5 billion humanitarian aid package to Pakistan, whose cooperation Washington needs to fight al-Qaeda-allied militants along the Pakistan-Afghan border.
US embassy miffed over checking of its vehicles
The spokesman at the US embassy, while pointing to the security of US diplomats, called for immediate action by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide security to its diplomatic and consular missions in Pakistan.
The US mission to Pakistan is concerned about the continued provocative actions and false allegations against US personnel working to implement the new partnership between the leaders of Pakistan and the United States, the US spokesman said.
While there have been dozens of incidents involving Pakistani security personnel and US diplomats with complaints that these diplomats did not have their vehicle papers in place, the US embassy on Thursday pointed to a particular incident in Gwadar.
In the most recent incident, on January 6, 2010, a US Consulate General vehicle with two Pakistani employees of the Consulate and their Sindh police constable escort were detained on Wednesday when travelling in Gwadar. The staff was preparing for the upcoming visit of US development assistance staff to one of Pakistans most impoverished regions. The US Embassy emphasises that all US vehicles in Pakistan are appropriately registered with the Pakistani authorities and carry at all times full documentation attesting to their legal status. The two Consulate employees and their police escort were carrying all the required documents and had met in Turbat with the Police commissioner as part of their work, complained the US embassy spokesman.
When contacted, the spokesman at the Foreign Office told The News: As regards this particular incident, we are awaiting a detailed report from the Ministry of Interior. As for new licence plates, these have been issued to some missions and the US embassy vehicles will be issued soon. Security check of cars with fake plates shows how diligent and efficient our personnel are. We expect cooperation and understanding from all foreign missions in their own security.
The US spokesman said that the US Mission renews its call on the government of Pakistan officials to implement immediately the mutually agreed upon procedures for the issuance of licence plates to US Mission vehicles and to cease these contrived incidents involving US Mission vehicles and personnel.
The spokesman at the Foreign Office said, It is indeed our duty to provide security to diplomatic and consular missions in Islamabad and facilitate them. Given exceptional circumstances, the government has taken several measures and continues to consider further steps in consultation with the foreign missions in Islamabad.
Speaking in Karachi on Thursday, US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to provide proper arrangements in order to address the security concerns of foreign diplomats. The ambassador offered assurances that American diplomats and their staff will comply with all government procedures, but that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet implemented the agreed upon procedures.
AP adds: The rare public protest reflects the rising frustration among US officials over alleged Pakistani efforts to stymie Washingtons moves to add hundreds more staff and more space to its embassy in Islamabad.
US officials say they need more room and people to help disburse a $7.5 billion humanitarian aid package to Pakistan, whose cooperation Washington needs to fight al-Qaeda-allied militants along the Pakistan-Afghan border.
US embassy miffed over checking of its vehicles
