Pakistan rejected 180 US govt visa requests as ‘incomplete’ in recent weeks

[Naveed Yaseen]

Anti-US wave endangers efforts in Pakistan

LAHORE: A new wave of anti-American sentiment in Pakistan has slowed the arrival of hundreds of US civilian and military officials charged with implementing assistance programmes and undermined cooperation in the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the Washington Post has quoted officials from both countries as saying.

At the highest levels, bilateral cooperation is said to be running smoothly. With US President Barack Obama’s enthusiastic support, the Senate on Thursday approved a $7.5 billion, five-year package that will triple non-military aid to Pakistan. But just below the top, officials in Islamabad and Washington say, the relationship is fraught with mutual suspicion and is under pressure so extreme that it threatens cooperation against the insurgents.

US and Pakistani officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said much of the anti-Americanism reflected jousting among politicians and retired military leaders, who often use the media to discredit one another.

Rejected: In recent weeks, Pakistan has rejected as “incomplete” at least 180 US government visa requests. However, Pakistani officials say the delay in issuing official visas is as much the US’ fault as it is Pakistan’s. “Sometimes the forms just say ‘work for the US government’. All we’ve done is returned those forms and said, “Hey, what are you going to do?’”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_8