MarkTheTruth
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The issuance of visa has been sparking tension between Pakistan and the US, as the latter in a tit for tat manner has withheld as many as seven genuine diplomatic Pakistani visas.
Since last year, the matter of issuance of diplomatic visas to seven Pakistani officials has been delayed by Washington. According to sources, seven officials of Pakistans Foreign Office, who were transferred to Pakistans Embassy in Washington and consulate in New York, have been waiting for issuance of their visas. However, no development so for has been made in connection with their visas. Normally it takes one and half a week to get a diplomatic visa but these officials have been waiting since ten weeks.
Reports suggest that America has been delaying issuance of visas in order to blackmail Pakistan to get as many as 300 more visas for its military and defence officials under A1 category, while according to rules and regulations, defence officials and businessmen do not deserve diplomatic or A1 category visas.
On the other side, Pakistans authorities of Interior Ministry and Foreign Affairs are reluctant to issue diplomatic visas to non-diplomats. According to details, in 2009, US had asked for issuance of almost 600 diplomatic visas. But after processing of applications, Islamabad issued 300 visas, while remaining were asked to provide further details or apply for visa under category they qualify for. During course of processing, officials found most of applications were incomplete, so visa seekers were asked for provision of more details. Nevertheless, owing to non-applicability, the authorities in Islamabad rejected most of the applications, relating to a large number of American defence officials.
According to high-level sources, the US administration has clearly said in the blackmailing tone that they would not issue visas to Pakistani officials until they get remaining visas for American officials.
Nevertheless, Islamabad has expressed its concerns to Washington over delay in issuance of visas to Pakistani diplomats and officers who have applied in accordance with rules and regulations. In this regard, On May 17, this year, Foreign Office summoned the Head of Visa Section at US Embassy and conveyed Pakistans genuine concerns.
Nonetheless, this contention regarding the issuance of visa cannot be seen in isolation. Based upon biased approach, it reflects double standard of America under the pretext of unilateral security which only American diplomats and individuals need in Pakistan. They presume that they have special status and also need special treatment at the cost of rule of law.
It is notable that in the recent past, the new screening law at US airports was enforced by the US administration after a Nigerian national was charged with attempting to blow up a US-bond airliner using a new type of explosives. Without any logic, Pakistan was included in the list of countries, designated for new screening laws.
Pakistan has strongly taken up this discriminatory matter with the US administration at all levels. It was also discussed with the US high officials on March 24, this year. The enforcement of new screening laws on Pakistanis was generating negative feelings about the US in the country and thus affecting our bilateral relations.
Notably, a parliamentary delegation led by Senator Abbas Afridi went to the US on an invitation by the US State Department. However, officials at the airport asked the parliamentarians to undergo the routine body scanning process, which angered the lawmakers and they cancelled their trip. In this respect, US embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said, We are sad about the decision of the parliamentarians. We told them before the visit that they would have to face the body scanning process. In fact, it is illogical statement of the US spokesman as no country should insult its guests.
Recently, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the Senate that the screening of Pakistani nationals at US airports was unacceptable to the government and the people of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Amad Khan remarked in reply to a supplementary question, that he was also in favour of reciprocal treatment with US nationals at Pakistani airports.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari and the Foreign Ministry had urged the US many times to remove Pakistans name from the list of nations whose citizens are to be subjected to stringent screening.
It is mentionable that on the one hand, the US has granted Pakistan, status of the non-NATO ally, while American security agencies deputed at airports only check and scrutinize Pakistani passengers in a more tightly way as compared to those of other countries.
It is of particular attention that in the US, Jews who control the media and every successive administration owing to their strong financial position influece the internal and external policies of the country. They were already in collusion with the Indians to exploit American strategy against the Islamic World, while the September 11 tragedy had provided them with a golden oppurtunity to to fulfill their collective designs against Pakistan in particular and other Islamic country in general. It was due to the manipulation by the Indo-Israeli nexus that just immediately after the September11 events, a deliberate anti-Muslim campaign was launched by the US FBI and CIA. Apart from the Muslims of other Islamic countries, innocent Pakistani nationals became the special targets of persecutionunlawful detentions and arrests. Even the US government failed to note that the whole of Muslim and Pakistani communities could not be held responsible for the acts of a few.
Besides on May 3, American law-enforcement officials arrested a Pakistani-born US citizen, Faisal Shahzad suspected for the failed Times Square attempt, revealing that he attended a terror training camp in Pakistan. Although it was individual act of Faisal Shahzad or some non-state actors, yet harassment of the innocent Pakistani nationals under the pretext of the suspected keeps on going by the US security agencies in the United States.
Now, persecution of the Muslims, especially Pakistani under the cover of American anti-terrorism legislation, immigrant laws and refusal of visas on racial bias show their official policy.
Last year, there has already been a debate over the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan, while on September 19, 2009, police raided the Inter-Risk, a private security company in Islamabad, and arrested its two employees, possessing unlicensed arms and ammunition. On the other side, US embassy spokesperson Richard Snelsire confirmed, The US contract with the Inter-Risk is to provide security at the embassy and consulates.
Pakistans media have focused on private security firms which American diplomats are using in the country under the pretext of providing security to its embassies. In this regard, the existence of the US notorious private security firm, Blackwater has been verified in our country with a new name as Xe Services. It was believed that employees of Blackwater entered in the guise of diplomats.
Although the US says that it is adding more staff to its embassies, yet under this cover, it is likely to set up a number of Guantanamo-style secret prisons all over Pakistan. In this context, by playing a double game, US sent Blackwater which will engage in espionage and other criminal activities such as kidnapping, torture and killing of our citizens.
In the last nine months, Pakistans security agencies have apprehended illegal weapons from the US officials, while checking their vehicles in Islamabad, Lahore and some other cities. Here question arises, could a Pakistani national be allowed to carry arms, on the roads of Washington DC? In this context, if rule of law could be applied in the US, as to why it could not be applied in Pakistan.
Returning to main discussion, security is a two-way traffic. If American diplomats and nationals need security, Pakistani diplomats and nationals also want the same. Security cannot be obtained by making the other insecure. Nonetheless, Americans indicate double standard of security.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations.
MTT - Pakistan - The issuance of visa has been sparking tension between Pakistan and the US
MTT - Pakistan - The existence of Blackwater has been verified in Pakistan with a new name as Xe Services under the guise of diplomats
Double Standard of ?Security?
Since last year, the matter of issuance of diplomatic visas to seven Pakistani officials has been delayed by Washington. According to sources, seven officials of Pakistans Foreign Office, who were transferred to Pakistans Embassy in Washington and consulate in New York, have been waiting for issuance of their visas. However, no development so for has been made in connection with their visas. Normally it takes one and half a week to get a diplomatic visa but these officials have been waiting since ten weeks.
Reports suggest that America has been delaying issuance of visas in order to blackmail Pakistan to get as many as 300 more visas for its military and defence officials under A1 category, while according to rules and regulations, defence officials and businessmen do not deserve diplomatic or A1 category visas.
On the other side, Pakistans authorities of Interior Ministry and Foreign Affairs are reluctant to issue diplomatic visas to non-diplomats. According to details, in 2009, US had asked for issuance of almost 600 diplomatic visas. But after processing of applications, Islamabad issued 300 visas, while remaining were asked to provide further details or apply for visa under category they qualify for. During course of processing, officials found most of applications were incomplete, so visa seekers were asked for provision of more details. Nevertheless, owing to non-applicability, the authorities in Islamabad rejected most of the applications, relating to a large number of American defence officials.
According to high-level sources, the US administration has clearly said in the blackmailing tone that they would not issue visas to Pakistani officials until they get remaining visas for American officials.
Nevertheless, Islamabad has expressed its concerns to Washington over delay in issuance of visas to Pakistani diplomats and officers who have applied in accordance with rules and regulations. In this regard, On May 17, this year, Foreign Office summoned the Head of Visa Section at US Embassy and conveyed Pakistans genuine concerns.
Nonetheless, this contention regarding the issuance of visa cannot be seen in isolation. Based upon biased approach, it reflects double standard of America under the pretext of unilateral security which only American diplomats and individuals need in Pakistan. They presume that they have special status and also need special treatment at the cost of rule of law.
It is notable that in the recent past, the new screening law at US airports was enforced by the US administration after a Nigerian national was charged with attempting to blow up a US-bond airliner using a new type of explosives. Without any logic, Pakistan was included in the list of countries, designated for new screening laws.
Pakistan has strongly taken up this discriminatory matter with the US administration at all levels. It was also discussed with the US high officials on March 24, this year. The enforcement of new screening laws on Pakistanis was generating negative feelings about the US in the country and thus affecting our bilateral relations.
Notably, a parliamentary delegation led by Senator Abbas Afridi went to the US on an invitation by the US State Department. However, officials at the airport asked the parliamentarians to undergo the routine body scanning process, which angered the lawmakers and they cancelled their trip. In this respect, US embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said, We are sad about the decision of the parliamentarians. We told them before the visit that they would have to face the body scanning process. In fact, it is illogical statement of the US spokesman as no country should insult its guests.
Recently, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the Senate that the screening of Pakistani nationals at US airports was unacceptable to the government and the people of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Amad Khan remarked in reply to a supplementary question, that he was also in favour of reciprocal treatment with US nationals at Pakistani airports.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari and the Foreign Ministry had urged the US many times to remove Pakistans name from the list of nations whose citizens are to be subjected to stringent screening.
It is mentionable that on the one hand, the US has granted Pakistan, status of the non-NATO ally, while American security agencies deputed at airports only check and scrutinize Pakistani passengers in a more tightly way as compared to those of other countries.
It is of particular attention that in the US, Jews who control the media and every successive administration owing to their strong financial position influece the internal and external policies of the country. They were already in collusion with the Indians to exploit American strategy against the Islamic World, while the September 11 tragedy had provided them with a golden oppurtunity to to fulfill their collective designs against Pakistan in particular and other Islamic country in general. It was due to the manipulation by the Indo-Israeli nexus that just immediately after the September11 events, a deliberate anti-Muslim campaign was launched by the US FBI and CIA. Apart from the Muslims of other Islamic countries, innocent Pakistani nationals became the special targets of persecutionunlawful detentions and arrests. Even the US government failed to note that the whole of Muslim and Pakistani communities could not be held responsible for the acts of a few.
Besides on May 3, American law-enforcement officials arrested a Pakistani-born US citizen, Faisal Shahzad suspected for the failed Times Square attempt, revealing that he attended a terror training camp in Pakistan. Although it was individual act of Faisal Shahzad or some non-state actors, yet harassment of the innocent Pakistani nationals under the pretext of the suspected keeps on going by the US security agencies in the United States.
Now, persecution of the Muslims, especially Pakistani under the cover of American anti-terrorism legislation, immigrant laws and refusal of visas on racial bias show their official policy.
Last year, there has already been a debate over the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan, while on September 19, 2009, police raided the Inter-Risk, a private security company in Islamabad, and arrested its two employees, possessing unlicensed arms and ammunition. On the other side, US embassy spokesperson Richard Snelsire confirmed, The US contract with the Inter-Risk is to provide security at the embassy and consulates.
Pakistans media have focused on private security firms which American diplomats are using in the country under the pretext of providing security to its embassies. In this regard, the existence of the US notorious private security firm, Blackwater has been verified in our country with a new name as Xe Services. It was believed that employees of Blackwater entered in the guise of diplomats.
Although the US says that it is adding more staff to its embassies, yet under this cover, it is likely to set up a number of Guantanamo-style secret prisons all over Pakistan. In this context, by playing a double game, US sent Blackwater which will engage in espionage and other criminal activities such as kidnapping, torture and killing of our citizens.
In the last nine months, Pakistans security agencies have apprehended illegal weapons from the US officials, while checking their vehicles in Islamabad, Lahore and some other cities. Here question arises, could a Pakistani national be allowed to carry arms, on the roads of Washington DC? In this context, if rule of law could be applied in the US, as to why it could not be applied in Pakistan.
Returning to main discussion, security is a two-way traffic. If American diplomats and nationals need security, Pakistani diplomats and nationals also want the same. Security cannot be obtained by making the other insecure. Nonetheless, Americans indicate double standard of security.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations.
MTT - Pakistan - The issuance of visa has been sparking tension between Pakistan and the US
MTT - Pakistan - The existence of Blackwater has been verified in Pakistan with a new name as Xe Services under the guise of diplomats
Double Standard of ?Security?
