US wants diplomats’ number hiked to record 749

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Islamabad IG says he released US nationals under ‘diplomatic immunity’
* Defence Ministry official says country’s nuclear assets in safe hands

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Human Rights was informed on Thursday that the United States wanted to raise the strength of its diplomats in Pakistan to 749.

Foreign Ministry officials told the body that the Foreign Office had extended the visas of 432 US nationals during last year. “The strength of US diplomats in India and Russia is 325 and 560 respectively,” they said.

The Interior Ministry on Thursday told the National Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Human Rights that no foreign security agencies were present in Pakistan.

NWFP Inspector General Malik Naveed told the body India, Israel and Afghanistan were responsible for the NWFP becoming a hostile region. He also said a US-based agency, Dynacorp, was operating in the province.

The sub-committee had summoned a meeting to hear several reports about the activities of foreign agencies, including Blackwater, in Pakistan. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Javed Hashmi chaired the meeting.

“At present, 379 US diplomats are working at the US embassy. They want to raise their strength to 749 and have applied for 200 more visas,” Foreign Ministry officials told the sub-committee.

The body also expressed displeasure over the government’s failure to come up with a satisfactory response over the recent arrest and release of four US nationals, disguised as Afghan nationals, in Islamabad.

Release: Islamabad IG Kaleem Imam said he had released the arrested US nationals under “diplomatic immunity”.

Hashmi said no foreign diplomat should be allowed to use fake licence plates and illegal weapons.

An Interior Ministry official denied the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan, adding that around 17 local security agencies were operating in the country.

“The licence of Inter-Risk has been cancelled and investigations are under way,” he said.

Safe hands: Earlier, to the members’ questions, a Defence Ministry official assured the body that the country’s nuclear assets were in safe hands and no one would be allowed access to them.

“There is a comprehensive command-and-control system in place and safety of nukes is under constant review. They are of paramount importance for our country’s defence and are in safe hands,” he said.

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