Lawmakers fear visa-on-arrival offer may reopen doors to Blackwater, other spy agencies

[The Eagle]

Lawmakers fear visa-on-arrival offer may reopen doors to Blackwater, other spy agencies

By News Desk
Published: January 24, 2018

Blackwater troops in training. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

Lawmakers in the lower house of parliament have expressed concerns over the newly-revived visa-on-arrival scheme that may result in opening doors to private military contractors such as Blackwater and other notorious spy intelligence agencies.

Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that Pakistan is now offering visas to people travelling in groups from 24 different countries.

“The scheme has been started on American pressure,” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari claimed during a session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

“This step by the government has posed serious threats to the national security,” Mazari said, adding that the scheme had earlier resulted in the US spy agency’s presence in the country.

Moreover, the legislator feared that the move will allow non-governmental agencies (NGOs) to fulfil their nefarious designs. She pointed out that the countries the government is facilitating don’t issue visas to Pakistanis without hardships.

However, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal insisted that the scheme is aimed at facilitating tourists, saying the relevant guidelines and security checks would help ensure effective monitoring of visitors.

“I reject the apprehension that Blackwater or other security contractors can enter Pakistan,” Iqbal asserted.

Responding on Iqbal’s statement during the session, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said he had put a ban on the visa-on-arrival policy, saying it had guaranteed that Pakistan was treated equally.

“Only those countries that allowed visa-on-arrival to Pakistanis had been facilitated,” he said, adding, “If our minister has to go to the embassy to get the visa and if we pay more, the countries we’re facilitating should too.”

These realities, he insisted, must not be politicised.

In April last year, Nisar, the then interior minister, ordered immediate suspension of issuance of visas on arrival (landing permits) to foreigners to avoid any ‘irregularities’ in the database.

 

[BHarwana]

This is a topic should be discussed in the Parliament.

Each Pakistani embassy should have a ISI station officer.

 

[El Sidd]

Cute

 

[cloud4000]

So a RAW agent like myself -- with a bonafide US passport -- can travel to Pakistan and get a visa-on-arrival? Second only to turning Nawaz Sharif into a RAW agent, this would be a great victory indeed.

 

[PDF]

With this policy in a country with security situation like this, there is always some potential threat. But this policy allows multiple entry visa for just 30 days. Also, blackwater operated within Pakistan while it being in the knowledge of intel agencies. It is the job of Counter-Intelligence units to catch them.

 

[Imran Khan]

as we have already shortage of black water and agents ?

 

[Reichsmarschall]

This is a topic should be discussed in the Parliament.

Each Pakistani embassy should have a ISI station officer.

well they already have em

 

[Azadkashmir]

it called cctv and bugs.

 

[Fledgingwings]

What else can you expect from useless scums making policies against public opinions and their intrests?

 

[HannibalBarca]

Like if spies care about that... or Blackwater mercenaries... YOu can lock your country from the inside out and still got them...running free in your country...
Since in this scenario...the threat is not outside but inside... I'm pretty sure they gonna find what they need and want in this 200Mil pool...

Just update your strategical "entities" to keep them out... and that's it...

 

[RowdyRathore]

So a RAW agent like myself -- with a bonafide US passport -- can travel to Pakistan and get a visa-on-arrival? Second only to turning Nawaz Sharif into a RAW agent, this would be a great victory indeed.

Go there then it's the scheme only for the people like you, though i don't think tourists would really wanna go there.

 

[Thanatos]

Well you cant be paranoid all the time. You cannot close yourself to the external world. Pakistan has to open itself to the region and beyond, there is certainly a possibility that it will be misused but the solution is to improve your own system , improve FIA and people who issue visa.

 

[Shahzaz ud din]

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE > PAKISTAN

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Nisar sides with PTI’s Mazari in slamming visa-on-arrival policy in NA debate
By Riazul Haq
Published: January 24, 2018
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Nisar said he could share several examples where some INGOs had permission for operations in Islamabad but they were working in Balochistan. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: Disagreeing with the views of Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on the international non-government organisations (INGOs), his predecessor Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has accused these organisations of going beyond their mandate and being engaged in anti-state activities.

“If the INGOs are non-government, why former US president [Barrack] Obama, former UK premier [David] Cameron and other leaders have been taking interest in their affairs! Why this intervention at the level of the head of state.

It should be checked how much money came through these INGOs,” Nisar said on Wednesday.
He was speaking on the floor of the National Assembly during a discussion initiated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Shireen Mazari, who strongly criticised the government for allowing INGOs to continue their activities until their cases are finalised as well as new visa-on-arrival policy for 24 countries.

Mazari said every country issued visa on reciprocal basis, questioning why Pakistan should grant that favour to some countries, including the US, which had even issued travel advisory about Pakistan for its citizens.

“Visa on arrival was stopped in the past because wrong visas were issued, especially to the US operatives. The whole world knows INGOs are exploited by spy agencies,” she said.

Responding to her, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said for the security of Pakistan, “the government is as watchful as other countries and there is no change in its policy”.

He added, “It is not that every Tom, Dick and Harry can come to the country. Entry to Pakistan can only be made through registered tour operators.

There was just an anomaly that has been removed from the policy about INGOs and there is nothing new.”

Opposition submits requisition to summon NA session

He said the visa policy was only to support tourists, adding that Pakistan could not shut its doors to everyone due to security concerns. “We have to bring tourists. But I dismiss fears [that because of our policy] Blackwater or any other security contractor will enter Pakistan,” he said.

Iqbal said he was surprised to know that that the PTI considered INGOs anti-Pakistan, adding that these organisations were playing their role in different countries.

“However, in the garb of such work no element will be allowed to work against the national interest. We welcome those which are working in development sector but those who will work against the interest of Pakistan would not be given permission,” he said.

However, Nisar, who had been at the helm of interior ministry for four years, apparently supported the concerns showed by PTI’s Mazari.

He said he knew that INGOs were doing admirable work in the country but there were some who were doing what was not their mandate and that was why a new policy had to be devised.

“I can say hundreds of spies entered this country especially in [General] Musharraf’s era, who were deadly for this country, and we should not compromise on our security,” he said.

Nisar said he could share several examples where some INGOs had permission for operations in Islamabad but they were working in Balochistan. Some were allowed to perform development functions in Gilgit-Baltistan but were seen working in Khushab, he added.

“They have been found working where we have our sensitive installations and other such areas. You can’t imagine what kind of people came to this country taking advantage of the visa-on-arrival facility… that is why we banned it,” he said.

“We decided we would give visa on arrival to any country which gives the same facility to us,” he said, adding, “If our ministers and parliamentarians are not given visa and if our ministers and top officials have to go to embassy, their officials should also have to go through a similar process.”

Shah lambasts CM Shehbaz

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah expressed rage over Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his seeking applause on finding the murderer of seven-year-old Kusur girl, Zainab.

Civil society censures govt for banning NGOs

“Shehbaz is not a politician but a showoff. He sought applause after the culprit was caught. This must have hurt the parents of the deceased. He should be ashamed of himself for such a behaviour,” he added.


Read more: Ahsan Iqbal , Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan , Latest

 

[Thorough Pro]

Why give visa on arrival to nations who don't reciprocate? No body is going to bring tourism dollars, instead it would be us spies and terrorists flocking to create political instability in Pakistan

Lawmakers fear visa-on-arrival offer may reopen doors to Blackwater, other spy agencies

By News Desk
Published: January 24, 2018

Blackwater troops in training. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

Lawmakers in the lower house of parliament have expressed concerns over the newly-revived visa-on-arrival scheme that may result in opening doors to private military contractors such as Blackwater and other notorious spy intelligence agencies.

Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that Pakistan is now offering visas to people travelling in groups from 24 different countries.

“The scheme has been started on American pressure,” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari claimed during a session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

“This step by the government has posed serious threats to the national security,” Mazari said, adding that the scheme had earlier resulted in the US spy agency’s presence in the country.

Moreover, the legislator feared that the move will allow non-governmental agencies (NGOs) to fulfil their nefarious designs. She pointed out that the countries the government is facilitating don’t issue visas to Pakistanis without hardships.

However, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal insisted that the scheme is aimed at facilitating tourists, saying the relevant guidelines and security checks would help ensure effective monitoring of visitors.

“I reject the apprehension that Blackwater or other security contractors can enter Pakistan,” Iqbal asserted.

Responding on Iqbal’s statement during the session, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said he had put a ban on the visa-on-arrival policy, saying it had guaranteed that Pakistan was treated equally.

“Only those countries that allowed visa-on-arrival to Pakistanis had been facilitated,” he said, adding, “If our minister has to go to the embassy to get the visa and if we pay more, the countries we’re facilitating should too.”

These realities, he insisted, must not be politicised.

In April last year, Nisar, the then interior minister, ordered immediate suspension of issuance of visas on arrival (landing permits) to foreigners to avoid any ‘irregularities’ in the database.

 

[Talwar e Pakistan]

I plan on going to Pakistan this summer, do I need to apply for a NICOP or can I use this visa-on-arrival?