Diplomat: Pakistan holding up some US visas

[ajpirzada]

By ANNE GEARAN (AP) – 39 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has held up visas for U.S. diplomats, military service members and others, apparently because of hostility within the country toward the expansion of U.S. operations in Pakistan, a senior U.S. diplomat said Wednesday.
American diplomats have also been stopped repeatedly at Pakistani checkpoints as part of what U.S. officials say is a wider focus on foreigners working in Pakistan. The U.S. cars are searched, although diplomats are told to open the trunk but to refuse access to the passenger compartment.
The U.S. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive interaction between the two countries, said that the visa clampdown seems to be a reaction to widespread anti-American sentiment, even though many of the affected workers would be doing jobs that bring aid and other help to Pakistan.
The official said the reaction is probably temporary and that the U.S. does not plan to do more than press Pakistani authorities to relent.
The U.S. embassy is already large and expanding, with plans to go from about 500 employees to more than 800 over the next 18 months. Most of the growth is related to the expansion of U.S. aid to Pakistan, some of which comes with requirements for accounting and oversight that have rankled Pakistanis.
The official said that at the embassy, several employees have gone home for Christmas leave and will be unable to return because the Pakistani authorities have not expended their visas. In all, 135 visa extensions have been denied, the official said. Other visa applications have been rejected outright, but U.S. authorities have not collected data on how many.
The official said Pakistani authorities have not provided a comprehensive response to American complaints, and that several ministries are involved. That allows Pakistani authorities to spread the blame, the official said.
The official said that among those whose visas were held up are mechanics who tend to a fleet of U.S. helicopters that supports Pakistani military operations in the frontier areas.
The helicopters stopped flying when there were insufficient mechanics to maintain them, the official said. Some visas were approved after Pakistani authorities inquired about the grounded helicopters.
In October, President Barack Obama signed into law a $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan. Pakistan's military criticized the aid as American meddling in the country's internal affairs.
The measure provides $1.5 billion annually over five years for economic and social programs and comes as Pakistan faces a string of violent militant attacks and bombings as its military orchestrates an offensive into the Taliban heartland.
The law is the Obama administration's attempt to strengthen the weak civilian government in Islamabad and encourage its fight against Taliban and al-Qaida militants operating along the border with Afghanistan, where the United States is fighting an eight-year war.
The stability of a nuclear-armed Pakistan is deemed crucial to U.S.-led efforts to battle extremists in South Asia.
The White House said the law, which was passed unanimously by Congress, is "the tangible manifestation of broad support for Pakistan in the U.S."
The legislation requires the secretary of state to report to Congress every six months on whether Pakistan's civilian government maintains effective control over the military's budgets, chain of command and top promotions.
The White House said the requirements are "accountability measures" placed on the United States to ensure that the aid directly benefits the Pakistani people. It said that the law does not seek to micromanage Pakistani military or civilian affairs, "including the promotion of Pakistani military officers or the internal operations of the Pakistani military."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The Associated Press: Diplomat: Pakistan holding up some US visas

 

[illuminatus]

One thing that I fail to understand is how the US wants to ensure that aid reaches people by imposing measures such as controlling the military's budgets, chain of command and top promotions. Really, who are they trying to fool here? Such measures have no correlation with ensuring that aid reaches the people of Pakistan. On the contrary, such measures which are actually meant to control the army once again prove that the real aim is something different. No wonder why people are so suspicious about US intentions.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

"The U.S. embassy is already large and expanding, with plans to go from about 500 employees to more than 800 over the next 18 months. Most of the growth is related to the expansion of U.S. aid to Pakistan,"

Of course - they would have declared outright that a few dozen or a hundred or so of those were covert agents and spies ...

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

One thing that I fail to understand is how the US wants to ensure that aid reaches people by imposing measures such as controlling the military's budgets, chain of command and top promotions. Really, who are they trying to fool here? Such measures have no correlation with ensuring that aid reaches the people of Pakistan. On the contrary, such measures which are actually meant to control the army once again prove that the real aim is something different. No wonder why people are so suspicious about US intentions.

The restrictions on the military are on the military aid alone, and while your general point is correct that those restrictions do nothing to ensure the military aid is spent as it should be, the military aid is not supposed to go to the 'people'. It is meant for military equipment and operations.

The civilian aid component is supposed to be used in civilian projects, and I am unsure as to whether accountability conditions on the military component extend to the civilian component (can't remember).

 

[illuminatus]

The restrictions on the military are on the military aid alone, and while your general point is correct that those restrictions do nothing to ensure the military aid is spent as it should be, the military aid is not supposed to go to the 'people'. It is meant for military equipment and operations.

The civilian aid component is supposed to be used in civilian projects, and I am unsure as to whether accountability conditions on the military component extend to the civilian component (can't remember).

The legislation requires the secretary of state to report to Congress every six months on whether Pakistan's civilian government maintains effective control over the military's budgets, chain of command and top promotions.

So, basically the above applies to military aid and not civilian aid? Is that correct? By the way, even if these conditions are tied to military aid I vehemently reject them. They are obviously not in the best interest of army and the security of Pakistan.

 

[TaimiKhan]

Illuminatus, main thing is that to destroy Pakistan and for Pakistan to bow down, its Army & Intelligence Agency ISI has to be destroyed or weakened first. That is the simple equation.

They keep the do more whining so that PA stretches more, more casualties lower will the moral go, more financial burden on Pakistan, more chaos in Pakistan as more area will be engulfed due to their do more strategy, rest you can see the chronology yourself.

Same was their tries to malign ISI, they tried putting it under the govt, under the new Czar of Pakistan, Rehman Malik, which failed, then all kind of allegations thrown on it, 26/11 tried to be put on it, supporting taliban accusation etc etc etc.

Which have nearly failed so far, so one more try was to put in KL BIll and try to constraint the Army and its power and chock its funds and try to bring their approved men to the higher ranks.

So this is all the big game.

 

[illuminatus]

Taimikhan, Thanks for the clarification! It's all becoming very clear what the real motives are.

 

[Mirage2000]

So what?Americans hold Visa's of many Pakistanis what's irking them? we'll allow ones who don't have malicious intentions,the bastards who keep arms with them and don't allow police inspections shouldn't be allowed to roam freely.Be it diplomats or disguised as diplomats shouldn't get Visa extensions.

 

[ajpirzada]

ISLAMABAD — Parts of the Pakistani military and intelligence services are mounting what U.S. officials in Islamabad describe as a campaign to harass American diplomats, fraying relations at a critical moment when the Obama administration is demanding more help to fight the Taliban and al-Qaida.

The campaign includes the refusal to extend or approve visas for more than 100 U.S. officials and the frequent searches of U.S. diplomatic vehicles in major cities, said an American official.

The problems affected military attachés, CIA officers, development experts, junior-level diplomats and others, a senior U.S. diplomat said. As a result, some U.S. aid programs to Pakistan, which President Obama has called a critical ally, are "grinding to a halt," the diplomat said.

U.S. helicopters used by Pakistan to fight extremists can no longer be serviced because visas for 14 U.S. mechanics have not been approved, the diplomat said. Reimbursements to Pakistan of nearly $1 billion a year for its counterterrorism operations were suspended because embassy accountants had to leave the country.

"There's an incredible disconnect between what they want of us and the fact we can't get the visas," the diplomat said.

Pakistani officials acknowledged the situation but said the menacing atmosphere resulted from U.S. arrogance and provocations, such as taking photographs in sensitive areas, and a lack of understanding of how divided Pakistanis were about the alliance with the United States.

U.S. and Pakistani officials declined to be identified because of their senior positions and the desire not to further inflame tensions.

The campaign comes after months of rising anti-American sentiment in Pakistan and complaints by the military that the government of President Asif Ali Zardari has grown too dependent on a new $7.5 billion, five-year aid plan from the United States.

It also appears to be an attempt to blunt the planned expansion of the U.S. Embassy to 800 Americans from 500 in the next 18 months, growth U.S. officials say is necessary to channel the expanded American assistance.

"They don't want more Americans here," another U.S. diplomat said. "They're not sure what the Americans are doing. It's pretty pervasive."

The harassment has grown so frequent that U.S. officials said they regarded it as a concerted effort by parts of the military and intelligence services that have grown resentful of U.S. demands to step up the war against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Pakistan's tribal areas.

Although the United States has been sending large amounts of military aid to the Pakistani army, and helping its spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate, the campaign shows the ambivalence, even "hatred" toward the United States in those quarters, the U.S. official said.

A Pakistani security official, who has kept a tally of many of the incidents, was not sympathetic, saying the Americans had brought the problems on themselves.

"Unfortunately, the Americans are arrogant," the Pakistani security official said. "They think of themselves as omnipotent. That's how they come across."

For instance, he said, the Pakistani police were not harassing U.S. diplomats as they drove up to checkpoints, but rather were responding to provocations by U.S. officials.

He cited a recent report in some Pakistani newspapers that a U.S. diplomat had been taking photographs in a military area of the city of Lahore.

The reports were false, a U.S. Embassy spokesman said. The so-called diplomat was a technical-support officer who was not carrying a camera, the spokesman said.

At least 135 U.S. diplomats have been refused extensions on their visas, the senior American diplomat said, leaving some sections of the embassy operating at 60 percent of capacity.

One of the most harmful consequences, the diplomat said, is the scaling back of helicopter missions by the Frontier Corps paramilitary troops fighting the Taliban in the tribal areas because of a lack of trained U.S. mechanics.

Much of the heightened suspicions about U.S. diplomats appear linked to persistent stories in the Pakistani media about the presence of U.S. security company Blackwater, now called Xe Services, in Pakistan.

The embassy has denied Xe operates in Pakistan. And The Associated Press reported last week that CIA Director Leon Panetta canceled a contract for Xe workers to arm drones earlier this year.

Nation & World | U.S. says Pakistan harassing diplomats, denying visas | Seattle Times Newspaper

 

[TaimiKhan]

That was long over due, hope the American stooge rehman malik leaves soon, hopefully we will then start seeing less of these American mercenaries in our ground.

 

[Spring Onion]

That was long over due, hope the American stooge rehman malik leaves soon, hopefully we will then start seeing less of these American mercenaries in our ground.

They are already feeling the heat. The yankees are yelling that they are being harassed by police here. Although its our right to search vehicles which are carrying terrorists from Blackwater.

 

[Abu Basit]

That was long over due, hope the American stooge rehman malik leaves soon, hopefully we will then start seeing less of these American mercenaries in our ground.

if by leaving soon u mean leave pakistan than thats not possible as our Interior minister's name is in ECL

i wud also suggest that pakistan shud throw out from Pakistan all unwanted american *****.

 

[khanz]

good move patience with americans is wearing thin in pakistan they give pakistanis a hard time for U.S visa so i don't see why don't do the same it's high time they're given a message that they're not welcome anymore.

 

[pak-marine]

what are the Americans whining about , after 9/11 for the sake of security they took all sorts of ruthless measures ,Pak has a war and if our govt has decided to stop visas in our self interest than its our right the GOP feels threatned by the Americans and sooner or later this was too start.

 

[Bushy]

There are a few things I wish to understand here, hope some of you could clear the picture up for me.

Here's my understanding:

1) As per this news piece, the conditions in the KL Bill empower the civilian government to ration the funds to the military.

2) Very naturally anyone can see that the US is using these funds to reduce the powers of the PA against the civilian government, that too while using the PA itself to fight the tedious US WOT within Pakistan's own territories.


3) The Pakistani Army is not in favor of the KL bill and those funds (read: rationing conditions of those funds), as it had lodged strong protests and had shown reservations against it, so the amount of funds in the KL Bill must be of significant proportion, and must mean something to the PA.

Now what is confusing me here:

When the question of regulating top promotions arises, the PA cannot depend on/allow any entity except for itself. Letting such control go into the hands of the civilian government like that of Zardari would be lethally harming to the PA. Is the amount given through the KL Bill so significant that the PA depends on it?

The PA's reluctant acceptance of the KL Bill (in harsh but simpler words: the bill that is forced upon the PA) tells me they had no other choice. It makes me wonder whether does the PA not have any other source of funding?