Diplomatic ire
It is strange for the US to complain every now and then over alleged harassment of its staff by law enforcement personnel in a land that is fighting a deadly battle against extremists. The US mission has taken strong exception against what it calls the “continued provocative actions and false allegations against its personnel”. Agreed that diplomats enjoy immunity under international law and American diplomatic staff enjoy particular privileges as per understandings reached between the US and Pakistan governments, but can we deny that the security situation in the country is precarious and warrants precautionary measures?
The latest complaint has probably been prompted by the detention of three Pakistani staffers of Karachi’s US consulate in Gwadar. They were travelling in an official car with a fake number plate and, according to police, did not inform the competent authorities before travelling, as is required of all foreign missions’ diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff members. The police have registered a case against them and are now investigating, because they failed to explain the purpose of their visit. The role and activities of the US in Pakistan have been the subject of suspicion and debate for a long time. Drone attacks in tribal areas and leaks about Blackwater’s mercenary operations at places, which regular US forces and intelligence agencies cannot penetrate, have irritated many. Additionally, overly concerned with the security of their staff, armed US marines have harassed and intimidated Pakistani citizens, apparently forgetting that Pakistan is not a colony of the US, but a sovereign country.
Check posts and searches of vehicles have a deterrent value and all citizens have to undergo security scrutiny to prevent any untoward incident. The US is better placed to understand this considering the new regime of mandatory pat-downs implemented at all American airports for the citizens of 14 countries, including Pakistan, arriving in the US. The American security establishment was prompted to enforce this protocol merely because a Nigerian man had managed to board a plane carrying explosives hidden under his clothing. The US mission must appreciate that its diplomatic staff is treated with respect and extended full cooperation in their work in Pakistan and, in turn, should respect the laws of the land. The kind of immunity American personnel are allowed in Pakistan would be unthinkable to Pakistan’s diplomatic staff in the US. Denying checks and getting over-sensitive is not going to solve the problem. Instead, officials of the two countries should arrive at a rational management regime to avoid repeated unpleasant incidents. *