US embassy annoyed over ‘provocative’ harassment of its personnel in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Miffed at the constant security checks its officials are facing in Pakistan, the US Embassy in Islamabad has complained that its diplomats are frequently being detained during their visits to different parts of the country.

“The US mission to Pakistan is concerned about the continued provocative actions and false allegations against US personnel working to implement the new partnership between the leaders of Pakistan and the United States,” The News quoted a US spokesman, as saying.

While there have been dozens of complaints that US diplomats did not have their vehicle papers in place, the US embassy on Thursday pointed to a particular incident in Gwadar.

“In the most recent incident, on January 6, 2010, a US Consulate General vehicle with two Pakistani employees of the Consulate and their Sindh police constable escort were detained on Wednesday when travelling in Gwadar,” the spokesperson said.

“The staff was preparing for the upcoming visit of US development assistance staff to one of Pakistan’s most impoverished regions. The two Consulate employees and their police escort were carrying all the required documents and had met in Turbat with the Police commissioner as part of their work,” he added.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson has pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to provide proper arrangements in order to address the security concerns of foreign diplomats.

The ambassador offered assurances that American diplomats and their staff will comply with all government procedures, but that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet implemented the agreed upon procedures. (ANI)