Thursday, December 17, 2009

Pakistan harassing US diplomats

American diplomats, CIA officers, and military attaches have been complaining that the Pakistani military and intelligence apparatus has been harassing them.

What could go wrong? Seattle Times

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 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.

No comments: