Imran Khan ‘welcome’ in US: Mark Toner

[Baby Leone]

WASHINGTON: Pakistani cricketer turned politician Imran Khan “is welcome” in the United States even though he was briefly held by US immigration agents in Canada, a US official said on Wednesday.

“We are aware that he was detained briefly in Toronto before boarding his flight to the United States,” acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters when asked about Khan’s questioning last week.

But he disputed allegations that Khan was held and interrogated for hours as he tried to board a New York-bound plane from the Canadian city.

Khan is the leader of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf party (PTI) and has campaigned for an end to US drone strikes against suspected Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

“My understanding is that the issue was quickly resolved and that Khan traveled into the United States, and certainly he is welcome in the United States,” Toner said.

Khan was headed to New York to attend a fundraiser organised by his party.

“I was taken off from plane and interrogated by US Immigration in Canada on my views on drones. My stance is known. Drone attacks must stop,” he wrote on Twitter.

Khan argues drone strikes are illegal and counterproductive and earlier this month he led thousands of supporters — and a group of American peace activists — on a march to the edge of Pakistan’s restive tribal districts to protest them.

Toner said he did not know “the specifics” of why Khan was held, but added: “I would just say that we certainly don’t want any legitimate traveler delayed for no reason.”


Imran Khan ‘welcome’ in US: Mark Toner | DAWN.COM

 

[Awesome]

add to that - ", grudingly."

 

[Rank]

Let see IK will backoff or still go for the protest against drone in NY with US citizen!

 

[Pakistani sipahi]

Let see IK will backoff or still go for the protest against drone in NY with US citizen!

Me also waiting . . . .

 

[VCheng]

add to that - ", grudingly."

Asim, I am sure you are better than that.

The law is the law. Once he was permitted to enter, there is nothing to begrudge.

 

[Safriz]

IK is too stubborn to back off...
But he wont use this event as a political tool either and wont ride the wave of Anti Americanism...just anti drone...

 

[VCheng]

IK is too stubborn to back off...
But he wont use this event as a political tool either and wont ride the wave of Anti Americanism...just anti drone...

Stubbornness is never a good quality for any politician.

 

[Dil Pakistan]

Stubbornness is never a good quality for any politician.

It is, you can be sure of that.

Jinnah, Gandhi and Mandela; all were known as extremely stubborn political leaders in their respective times.

 

[VCheng]

It is, you can be sure of that.

Jinnah, Gandhi and Mandela; all were known as extremely stubborn political leaders in their respective times.

IK is no Jinnah, Gandhi or Mandela, Sir. And you will see him compromising away merrily if and when he gets into power. Mark my words.

 

[airmarshal]

Stubbornness is never a good quality for any politician.

Those who back off usually have no principles. We have boat full of them to be taken to Arabian Sea.

 

[airmarshal]

IK is no Jinnah, Gandhi or Mandela, Sir. And you will see him compromising away merrily if and when he gets into power. Mark my words.

Fair enough. But in the f*lth in which we are wallowing, he definitely stands out. None of the politicians we have would ever want to be offloaded for the principle he stands on.

I think a few Americans too must be offloaded somewhere. Because in your logic, law is a law. No matter how bad, no matter how humiliating, its a law and if we have a brave leadership, it should also deplane Americans and fingerprint and ask them stupid questions.

For you American law seems to be a word of god. good you changed the avatar. Thanks.

 

[VCheng]

Fair enough. But in the f*lth in which we are wallowing, he definitely stands out. None of the politicians we have would ever want to be offloaded for the principle he stands on.

I would agree that he himself is not a corrupt man, thus better than the politicians in this regard. However, if and when he gets into power, much of what he says is simply not implementable.

His offloading was a mere matter of procedure, his views on drones had nothing to do with it.

I think a few Americans too must be offloaded somewhere. Because in your logic, law is a law. No matter how bad, no matter how humiliating, its a law and if we have a brave leadership, it should also deplane Americans and fingerprint and ask them stupid questions.................

Please just do it. Make my day.

 

[VCheng]

It is interesting to note that there are reports that IK brought up the drones first, NOT the C&BP personnel, and that IK's party may have failed to declare monetary instruments over $10k (not confirmed).

 

[VCheng]

It is interesting to note that there are reports that IK brought up the drones first, NOT the C&BP personnel, and that IK's party may have failed to declare monetary instruments over $10k (not confirmed).

The silence of those who were claiming discrimination and breach of diplomatic protocol is quite interesting.