Democratic Pakistan Bans BBC World News Over "Secret Pakistan" Documentary

Image via WikipediaAccording  to BBC News, Pakistani cable television operators have begun blocking the BBC's international news TV channel, BBC World News. This move was apparently due to a critical documentary broadcast entitled Secret Pakistan. Excerpts:

The BBC said it was deeply concerned by the move, and called for its channel to be speedily reinstated.

"We condemn any action that threatens our editorial independence and prevents audiences from accessing our impartial international news service," a BBC spokesperson said.

"We would urge that BBC World News and other international news services are reinstated as soon as possible."

The two-part BBC documentary questioned the country's commitment to tackling Taliban militancy.
[...]
The decision to block BBC World News and other international news channels comes after a media uproar in Pakistan over a Nato air strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops near the Afghan border at the weekend.

The All Pakistan Cable Operators Association announced on Tuesday that all foreign news channels airing "anti-Pakistan" content would be barred from Wednesday.

The operators called on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) "to revoke the landing rights of foreign channels" if they are found to be "propagating" information harmful to the country.
[...]
Correspondents say it is not possible to see BBC World News in most Pakistani cities, with the ban expected to be extended to rural areas by Wednesday.

Cable Operators Association spokesman Khalid Arain said that no foreign anti-Pakistan channel would "ever" be broadcast in the country.

"We want to send them a strong message to stop this. If they don't stop this, then it is our right to stop them," he said.

Correspondents say the Pakistani government is likely to have put pressure on the operators to impose the ban.

Active link added above.  Read in full here.

The two-part documentary is, of course, now available on YouTube for everyone to see and unless pulled by BBC for copyright issues, available to anyone with access to the web. 

Secret Pakistan : Documentary by BBC Part 1
(Double Cross) | Length: 59:03
http://youtu.be/qSinK-dVrig

from BBC: In May this year, US Special Forces shot and killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. Publicly Pakistan is one of America's closest allies - yet every step of the operation was kept secret from it.

Filmed largely in Pakistan and Afghanistan, this two-part documentary series explores how a supposed ally stands accused by top CIA officers and Western diplomats of causing the deaths of thousands of coalition soldiers in Afghanistan. It is a charge denied by Pakistan's military establishment, but the documentary makers meet serving Taliban commanders who describe the support they get from Pakistan in terms of weapons, training and a place to hide.

This first episode investigates signs of duplicity that emerged after 9/11 and disturbing intelligence reports after Britain's forces entered Helmand in 2006.

Secret Pakistan : Documentary by BBC Part 2
(Backlash) | Length: 58:59
http://youtu.be/G5-lSSC9dSE

from BBC: The second film in this timely and enthralling two-part documentary series reveals how Britain and America discovered compelling evidence that Pakistan was secretly helping the Taliban and concluded they had been double-crossed.

It tells the story of how under President Obama the US has waged a secret war against Pakistan. Taliban commanders tell the film makers that to this day Pakistan shelters and arms them, and helps them kill Western troops - indeed one recently captured suicide bomber alleges he was trained by Pakistani intelligence.

Chillingly, the film also reveals that, based on some evidence, Pakistani intelligence stands accused of sabotaging possible peace talks. Pakistan denies these charges, but relations between Pakistan and America now verge on hostility.

Since it is inevitable that some clips of this documentary will bleed into prime time news, I suspect that a host of foreign channels will also be banned for "propagating information harmful to the country."

Perhaps, the cable operators would like to use the following programming filler - a music video, titled "Zindagi Hai Yahan."  This has been created to showcase the treasures of the beautiful valley of Swat and promote it as a premium tourist destination in Pakistan, with assistance from USAID and the people of the United States of America:

Read more on Tourism Takes On Taliban (IPS) and USAID Support to Tourism in Swat. 

Related articles

• BBC World News blocked in Pakistan (guardian.co.uk)
• Pakistani Cable Blocks BBC Over Critical Documentary (huffingtonpost.com)
• Pakistan withdraws from Afghanistan peace conference (telegraph.co.uk)
• Threat to foreign TV channels issued (nation.com.pk)
• Pakistani Cable TV Blocks BBC Over Documentary (abcnews.go.com)

US Mission Pakistan Warns Amcits Against Possible Retaliation After Cross-Border ISAF Incident

                            Image via WikipediaOn November 26, the US Embassy in Islamabad posted the following alert to U.S. citizens in Pakistan regarding Saturday's cross-border ISAF incident which reportedly left at least 24 Pakistani soldiers dead and 14 injured.

"The U.S. Mission is alerting all U.S. citizens residing in Pakistan to be especially vigilant in their personal security, and against possible retaliation, in the aftermath of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) cross-border incident that occurred the morning of Saturday, November 26.  Although the U.S. Mission is not aware of any specific threats or demonstrations at this time, the Embassy in Islamabad is advising U.S. government employees to minimize non-essential travel, and to utilize “buddy systems” to account for colleagues’ whereabouts.  In addition, some U.S. government personnel assigned outside of Islamabad are being recalled to the capital as a precaution.  The U.S. Mission urges all U.S. citizens to maintain vigilant situational awareness; to avoid crowds and demonstrations; to keep a low profile; and to be unpredictable, i.e. by varying the times and routes of all movements.  It is particularly important to verify that travel documents and visas remain valid."

Related articles

• Pakistan stops NATO supplies after deadly raid | - Reuters (reuters.com)
• Pakistan orders key US airbase to close after ISAF troops conduct cross border attack (longwarjournal.org)
• NATO: "Highly likely" it killed Pakistanis (cbsnews.com)

 

 

 

US Hip-Hop Diplomacy "Recovers" in Karachi and No On Stage B-Boying by American Diplomats

The hip hop group on tour in Pakistan performed in Islamabad, was detained briefly in Rawalpindi, was barred from performing in Lahore (long shadow of Raymond Davis?), then on November 24th, successfully performed at the port city of Karachi.

One may be tempted to call this a 50-50 success, given that the group skipped Peshawar (for good reasons), was unable to perform in Lahore (for fuzzy reasons) but did have successful performances in the capital city of Islamabad, and the country's largest city of Karachi. But is the ability to be on stage in two out of four U.S. posts in Pakistan sufficient to gauge the success of this program in a country where anti-American protests and demonstrations have tripled since the beginning of 2011? Probably not. One might wonder at the effectiveness of a program like this since it only reaches the more or less westernized and educated parts of the country as compared to the more rural, less educated, more suspicious variety of the local population.  I hope somebody back at State's Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau is looking at the performance metrics of programs like these.

On a side note, I am pleased to report that none of our diplomats in Karachi -- not the Consul General or the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) or Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) went on stage to try their luck with mcing or breakdancing even if it looks like a whole lot of fun. Whew to you, too!

Via YouTube/rashidkhan1973, the FEW Collective with Amjad Sabri Qawwal:

Related articles

• Life & Death in Karachi: A Review of Instant City (changinguppakistan.wordpress.com)
• US 'hip hop diplomacy 'fails to heal rift with Pakistan' (telegraph.co.uk)
• US hip-hop diplomacy hits speed bump in Pakistan (sfgate.com)
• Karachi rally will decide Pakistan's future: Imran (nation.com.pk)

No Superrappin for U.S. Hip-Hop Envoys in Lahore

So last week, the Chicago-based FEW Collective was briefly detained in Pakistan after one of the performers was alleged to have taken "sensitive photographs in the garrison city of Rawalpindi." The US Embassy in Islamabad stresses that "The performer was not aware of restrictions placed on photography in or near the cantonment, and had no intention of taking photographs of sensitive Pakistani government or military installations."

As part of U.S. Embassy's cultural exchange programs,
F.E.W. Collective came to Pakistan to share their dancing
and singing talents with the world.
Photo from US Embassy Islamabad/Flickr

That was last week. Over the weekend the group traveled to Lahore for more performances. USCGLahore tweeted on Nov 19: "Hip Hop group FEW Collective is now in Lahore playing at universities & jamming with students!"

Today, the group was barred from performing at a state-run hall in Lahore for "security reasons." Reports citing the local arts council director, Zulfikar Ali indicate that the scheduled performance had to be cancelled after "the local Al-Hamra Arts Council refused permission over its alleged failure to provide a no objection certificate (NOC) from the provincial home office."

MSN India reports that Lahore Arts Council's executive director Muhammad Ali Baloch says that "the band was not allowed to perform as it failed to provide a "no-objection certificate" issued by the Home Department of Punjab province."

"We had requested the US Consulate in Lahore to provide the NOC but it didn''t give us the same," Baloch told reporters. He said the NOC was a "mandatory legal requirement" for holding such a concert.

This was apparently contradicted by the US Consulate General spokesman Leslie Goodman who  told journalists that "all necessary documents had been provided to the Lahore Arts Council but its management did not allow the band to go ahead with its concert."

US ConGen Lahore posted the following message on its Facebook page:

Sorry fans, due to circumstances beyond our control, the venue decided it could not host the American hip hop performance tonight.  We regret the inconvenience the cancellation has caused to you.

The group's next stop is Karachi.

US Mission Pakistan: Hip-Hop Diplomacy Almost Hit the Wrong Note

Image via WikipediaVia the Express Tribune:

Pakistani military officials on Wednesday briefly detained a visiting US hip-hop troupe, accusing a performer of taking sensitive photographs in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, the embassy said. The nine American nationals were detained by the Islamabad police for allegedly taking photographs and making video footage of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

The six members of FEW Collective, a US officer, Pakistani staff from the embassy and Pakistani musicians were detained for around an hour on a military base in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

US Embassy Islamabad released the following statement:

"A performing arts group sponsored by the U.S. Embassy was briefly detained and later released by military authorities today in Rawalpindi. One of the performers was accused of taking photographs of sensitive installations. While one of the performers may have taken a photograph while travelling in an Embassy vehicle on a public road, no sensitive installations were visible from the vehicle. The performer was not aware of restrictions placed on photography in or near the cantonment, and had no intention of taking photographs of sensitive Pakistani government or military installations."

Now, it is quite easy to get mad at this incident. However, I suspect that Pakistan has the equivalent of our "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign.  Remember that one launched in conjunction with the rollout of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative (NSI) (PDF, 2 pages - 545 KB)?  The Pakistanis are just late in coming up with a sassy name for their program.

Read this one and tell me which government put this out:

Every day, law enforcement officers at all levels of
government—state, local, tribal, and federal—observe
suspicious behaviors or receive such reports from
concerned civilians, private security, and other government
agencies. What might not seem significant (for instance,
taking a picture of a ferry during loading), when combined
with other actions and activity, may become a composite
indicating the possibility of criminal—even terrorist—
activity.

Yep.

On a related note, Hishaam Aidi, editor, with Manning Marable, of Black Routes to Islam (Palgrave Macmillan 2009), and a fellow at the Open Society Foundation in New York recently had a lot to say about hip-hop diplomacy in Al Jazeera. Excerpts below:

Warning that Osama bin Laden's associate Abu Yahya al-Libi has made al-Qaeda look "cool", one terrorism expert recommends that the US respond "with one of America's coolest exports: hip hop", specifically with a "subgroup" thereof.
[...]
But it's unclear how "Muslim hip hop" will exert a moderating or democratising influence: Will a performance by an African-American Muslim group trigger a particular calming "effect", pushing young Muslim men away from extremist ideas? Nor is it clear what constitutes "Muslim hip hop": Does the fact that Busta Rhymes is a Sunni Muslim make his music "Islamic"?  
[..]
For State Department officials, the hip hop initiatives in Muslim-majority states showcase the diversity and integration of post-civil rights America. The multi-hued hip hop acts sent overseas represent a post-racial or post-racist American dream, and exhibit the achievements of the civil rights movement, a uniquely American moment that others can learn from.
But it's unclear how persuasive this racialised imagery is. Muslims do not resent the US for its lack of diversity. Where perceptions are poor, it is because of foreign policy, as well as, increasingly, domestic policies that target Muslims.

He may have hit the right note to ask here. Sometimes it takes someone from outside to bring up the right questions. 

Continue reading, Leveraging hip hop in US foreign policy.

 

Related articles

• US hip-hop diplomacy hits speed bump in Pakistan (sfgate.com)
• Pakistan Briefly Detains U.S. Hip-Hop Group (foxnews.com)
• VIDEO: Can hip hop improve US-Pakistan relations? (bbc.co.uk)
• America employs jazz diplomacy with Pakistan (cbsnews.com)

Photo of the Day: Where can I buy a key chain for this?

From US Embassy Pakistan via Flickr:

NAS Vehicle Handover

This is supposedly a handover; can't say from looking at the photo who's giving what to whom. He's holding the gigantic key with two hands, maybe he is giving it to her? And she seems happy to receive the key with one hand, or is she giving it to him?  What vehicle has a key as huge as that?  We're still thinking what this means but we'd like to know where one can buy a key chain for this.

Simple lesson here - if you bother to take a picture, and bother to upload it online, please bother to put some caption.




 

Thanks to a Hardworking Congress, Some Feds in the Garden Countries of I'Af/Pak to Lose Some Benefits

Stephen Losey of Federal Times reported last week that federal employees deployed to the I'Af/Pak region who are not in the Foreign Service have now lost numerous travel, medical and leave benefits because those benefits were not renewed by Congress after they expired Oct. 1. Excerpts:

The following benefits, which are available to Foreign Service officers, will no longer be available to non-Foreign Service personnel posted in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan, according to the Office of Personnel Management:

• Reimbursement of travel costs when going home on leave.

• Reimbursement of travel costs when obtaining necessary medical care when such care is not available locally.
• Reimbursement of travel costs when evacuating family members who are in imminent danger.
• Reimbursement of travel costs when transporting furniture and other personal effects when moving to another duty station.
• Mandatory leave for employees who have returned home after a three-year deployment. Agencies also will no longer have the option to offer leave to employees who had served in a war zone for 18 months.
• Medical examinations, mental health care, inoculations, vaccinations and other preventative care.
• A death gratuity equal to one year's salary when an employee dies of injuries sustained while supporting military operations.

Read in full here.

I have not read the OPM notice but I am presuming that these changes applies to non-Foreign Service and non-Defense employees serving in those three priority countries.

The 2010 OIG review of US Embassy Pakistan indicates that there are some three dozens non-State and non-DOD personnel in that country (DEA: 16, FBI: 7, DHS: 4, BBG:1, DOE: 1, NAS: 8, Treasury: 1).

On the U.S. Embassy Iraq staffing -- well, trying to pin down the staffing number over there, is of course, rocket science and I simply do not have the brains for it. Also, with the military withdrawal and the embassy taking charge, a whole lot of big numbers are bring thrown around - 5,000 - 17,000.  Security people is a big component but not sure how many non-State/USAID and non-DOD personnel will continue to deploy in Iraq and our consulates there when all is said and done in 2011. 

Due to the recent "flavor of the month" in Afghanistan, the civilian uplift staffing picture there is a bit more clearer.  Seven civilian agencies (State/USAID excepted) account for about 26% of the total civilian uplift.  So all those folks, plus some three dozens in Pakistan and an undetermined number in Iraq will be affected by Congress' non-renewal of warzone benefits.

In short, if they need mental health care after service in the warzones, they're basically out of luck?

This will have an impact to the employees already deployed there, but may have a larger impact on recruitment of employees for the 2012 assignment and onward.

From SIGAR/State OIG

Below is an excerpt from the SIGAR/State OIG review of the civilian uplift in that country:

[...] State increased its civilian personnel deployed to Afghanistan from 192 in January 2009, to 501 in March 2011—an increase of 309 personnel.

State has an additional 81 authorized full-time equivalent positions for the civilian uplift as of May 31, 2011, but the positions are currently unfilled. According to State officials from the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), they will continue to place additional civilian personnel in these positions through fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

USAID had the second largest presence of any agency prior to the start of the uplift. USAID personnel increased from 85 in January 2009 to 307 as of March 2011, an increase of 222 personnel. USAID has an additional 80 authorized positions for Afghanistan that are currently unfilled. According to USAID officials, they will continue to place additional U.S. civilians in these positions in fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

As of June 2011, the other seven civilian agencies with a presence in Afghanistan accounted for an increase of 189 personnel, or approximately 26 percent of the total civilian uplift. These agencies provide personnel at the request and direction of the Chief of Mission in Afghanistan and State officials in Washington in order to meet the mission’s strategic goals. The Chief of Mission determines the number of authorized civilian uplift positions in consultation with each department.

DOJ accounted for an increase of 78 personnel, or 11 percent, of the total civilian uplift. The majority of these uplift personnel are employees of the Drug Enforcement Administration who work on mentoring and training Afghan law enforcement entities in an effort to promote the rule of law. In addition, they provide leadership and guidance in the conduct of bilateral counternarcotics investigations and operations. USDA has deployed 59 civilian uplift personnel as of June 2011, representing eight percent of the total civilian uplift. These employees primarily mentor Afghan government officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock.

The remaining five agencies account for approximately seven percent of the total civilian uplift. DHS personnel advise, mentor, and train Afghan border, customs, and related entities to enforce Afghan customs and immigration law. Treasury places technical experts at Afghan government ministries where they provide assistance in four areas: strengthening budget and financial accountability, combating economic crimes and corruption, building internal audit capacity and increasing non-tax revenues, and achieving debt relief and improving debt management. Transportation personnel advise officials at the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation on issues such as civil aviation law and surface transportation planning. HHS personnel work on health programs, such as programs to strengthen maternal and child health services in Afghanistan. Finally, Commerce personnel assist with efforts to promote Afghanistan’s economic development and trade. 

Related item:       
SIGAR Audit-11-17 & State OIG AUD/SI-11-45 Civilian Uplift | September 8, 2011

Pakistan Says "Thank You" for USG Flood Assistance by Raiding US Embassy Warehouse. You're Welcome!

Last month, the Government of Pakistan made yet another disaster declaration after massive flooding hit its Sindh Province. The floods which started in August at the beginning of the monsoon months have caused considerable damage with an estimated 434 civilians killed and with an estimated 5.3 millio­n people and 1 ,524,773 homes affect­ed.

On September 13, 2011, in response to the Government of Pakistan's disaster declaration on September 9, the United States according to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad has immediately begun providing a broad range of assistance to Sindh communities affected by this year's floods, including food supplies for more than 50,000 families, and safe drinking water, shelter, sanitation and hygiene supplies, and basic health care for thousands more:

Already, USAID-funded food packages have reached 23,000 families in seven districts of Sindh (Badin, Mirpurkas, Tando Muhammed Khan, Tando Allah Ya, Tharparker, Umarkot, and Hyderabad). This assistance was delivered by the International Organization for Migration. USAID also paid for nearly 60 trucks to deliver relief to affected areas and 1,000 plastic tarpaulins for shelter, and is financing other efforts to coordinate relief activities.

In late September, the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar announced that Dr. Marilyn Wyatt, wife of U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter, visited an ongoing U.S. project to restore flood-damaged irrigation canals.  In total, the U.S. is restoring 1000 flood-damaged canals  in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Balochistan as part of assistance to the areas affected by the 2010 floods.

Dr. Marilyn Wyatt, wife of U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter
Photo from US CG Peshawar

The presser from CG Peshawar went on to say:

The project is one of many undertaken by the U.S. government in cooperation with Pakistan to restore self-sufficiency to farmers affected by floods.  Additional measures include providing seed, fertilizer, livestock feed, and medicine to more than 500,000 farmers in three provinces.  In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province alone, more than 400 irrigation canals in 12 districts have been restored, amounting to 12,000 kilometers.

This project funded by the American people is being implemented by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and Pakistani Provincial Disaster Management Authorities.

On October 3, the US Embassy in Islamabad announced that in all, the U.S. government is providing approximately $19 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the Government of Pakistan’s September 6 appeal and the UN’s September 18 appeal.

This includes funding for mobile health clinics that can provide health services to 500,000 people, emergency shelter kits for nearly 20,000 families, and 9,000 tons of rice to the World Food Program (WFP) which, when combined with other WFP food assistance, will reportedly meet the immediate food needs of 1.5 million people affected by flooding in Sindh Province for one month.

Just a few days prior to this October 3 announcement, the Government of Pakistan, anxious to say "thank you" for U.S. Government help in the flooding (and also for killing UBL hiding under the shadow of its prime military school), raided a U.S. Embassy warehouse in Islamabad. Under the headline, US Embassy warehouse sealed, dawn.com reports:

“We went to the warehouse on complaint of some residents of the sector and sealed the building as it was being constructed without approval of the CDA,” the authority`s Director General (Planning) Sarwar Sindhu said.

CDA officials said the warehouse was under construction and belonged to one Mehboob Elahi who had got changed the status of plot changed from industrial to warehouse a few months ago. Earlier, the place was used for a beverage factory.

Electronic media highlighted the issue throughout the day, saying that `a bunker or a hideout of Americans` had been sealed or raided.

“We had information that a building was being constructed in the industrial area in violation of CDA`s building laws on which we raided the building,” another official said.

Tribune.com subsequently reports that "a senior official of the CDA, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune that in addition to the warehouse in sector I-9/3, the civic body has identified three more sites where building codes are being violated by officials of the US embassy."

Oh, also that "A CDA official privy to the development said that the raiding team found concrete structures and signal jammers in the warehouse."

"US embassy Spokesperson Mark Stroh denied these claims, saying that no “illegal activities” are underway in any warehouse or official residence of the US diplomats. “Our offices are operating in the capital city with the approval of foreign ministry,” he said.

Earlier, the US embassy lodged a strong protest with the Foreign Office over the seizure of one of its warehouses in sector I-9/3 by CDA and a police team for “violations of building laws”.

On October 16, Pakistani press reports that local authorities unsealed the US Embassy’s warehouse building in Sector I-9 Industrial Area yesterday, following the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"A source privy to the developments confided to The Nation that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the civic agency to consider building as a diplomatic facility and after fulfilling the defined rules in this regard it should be handed over to the embassy."

Sorry, no Team 6 members were found hidden in the pretend "bunker" or unmarked wooden crates stored in the warehouse. CDA employees must be watching a whole lot of Jack Bauer episodes.

Oh, don't get mad.  They were just trying to say, "thank you," silly! If we give them $57 million more in humanitarian assistance, will they also raid "three more sites" of the US Embassy identified by CDA authorities?

Somebody, please go write that check.

Related articles

• US embassy controlled warehouse sealed (nation.com.pk)
• Pakistan Deals With Flooding, Terrorism Accusations (npr.org)
• 'Senior Haqqani commander killed' in Pakistan - Aljazeera.net (news.google.com)
• Flood aid donors shun 'bad brand' Pakistan (msnbc.msn.com)
• UN launches appeal for flood-hit Pakistan (telegraph.co.uk)
• Pakistan flood aid relief hurt by CIA's Osama bin Laden vaccination programme (telegraph.co.uk)

State Dept Issues New Travel Warning for Pakistan, the Wild, Wild West of South Central Asia -- But Where's The Sheriff?

On August 8, the State Department issued a new travel warning for Pakistan not only pointing to the potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout the country due to armed attacks including suicide bombings, but the widespread danger which includes false identification of individuals as intel operatives or private security contractors, spike in the prosecution for visa overstays,  severe restrictions in the travel of U.S. personnel, targeted killings and religious intolerance.  The kidnapping for ransom not just of foreign nationals but also of Pakistani nationals apparently has also increased dramatically nationwide.

Given the unpopularity of the United States in that country, I would not be surprise if consular access to incarcerated American citizens is also a very "challenging" endeavor for our consular officers in Pakistan.  Pakistan in my opinion offers the most dangerous assignments for our diplomats.  All posts in Pakistan except Quetta (25%) and Lahore (30%) get the same danger pay as the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan at 35%.  But if you look at the attacks on diplomats and USG facilities, Pakistan is way ahead than either Baghdad or Kabul.

Excerpt from the new travel warning:

The presence of al-Qaida, Taliban elements, and indigenous militant sectarian groups poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan. Terrorists and their sympathizers regularly attack civilian, government, and foreign targets, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The Government of Pakistan has heightened security measures, particularly in the major cities. Threat reporting indicates terrorist groups continue to seek opportunities to attack locations where U.S. citizens and Westerners are known to congregate or visit, such as shopping areas, hotels, clubs and restaurants, places of worship, schools, or outdoor recreation events. Terrorists have disguised themselves as Pakistani security personnel to gain access to targeted areas. Some media reports have recently falsely identified U.S. diplomats – and to a lesser extent U.S. and other Western journalists and workers for non-governmental organizations (NGOs)– as being intelligence operatives or private security personnel.

Since January 2010, terrorists have executed coordinated attacks with multiple operatives using portable weaponry such as guns, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and suicide vests or car bombs in Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Recent attacks included armed assaults on heavily guarded sites such as the naval air base in Karachi, the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar, police offices in Lahore and Karachi, military installations in Lahore, religious shrines including the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore and the Baba Farid Ganj Shakar shrine in southern Punjab, religious processions in Lahore, a hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and a food distribution center in Bajaur Agency.

U.S. citizens have been victims of attacks in the last few years.

On May 20, 2011, a U.S. consulate general vehicle in Peshawar was attacked, killing one person and injuring a dozen, including two U.S. employees of the mission.

On April 5, 2010, terrorists carried out a complex attack on the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar, with several Pakistani security and military personnel killed or wounded.

On February 3, 2010, ten persons, including three U.S. military personnel, were killed and 70 injured in a suicide bombing at a new girls’ school in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The October 2009 attack on the World Food Program headquarters resulted in serious injury of a U.S. citizen.

On November 12, 2008, a U.S. citizen contractor and his driver in Peshawar were shot and killed in their car.

In September 2008, over 50 people, including three U.S. citizens, were killed and hundreds injured when a suicide bomber set off a truck filled with explosives outside a major international hotel in Islamabad.

In August 2008, gunmen stopped and shot at the vehicle of a U.S. diplomat in Peshawar.

In March 2008, a restaurant frequented by Westerners in Islamabad was bombed, killing a patron and seriously injuring several others, including four U.S. diplomats.

On March 2, 2006, a U.S. diplomat, a Consulate General employee, and three others were killed and 52 people wounded when a suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives alongside the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi.

Visits by U.S. government personnel to Peshawar, Karachi and Lahore are limited, and movements by U.S. government personnel assigned to the Consulates General in those cities are severely restricted. U.S. officials in Islamabad are instructed to restrict the frequency and to minimize the duration of trips to public markets, restaurants, and other locations. Only a limited number of official visitors are placed in hotels, and for limited stays.

Depending on ongoing security assessments, the U.S. Embassy places areas such as hotels, markets, and/or restaurants off limits to official personnel. U.S. citizens in Pakistan are strongly urged to avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures and to maintain good situational awareness, particularly when visiting locations frequented by Westerners.

Access to many areas of Pakistan, including the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) along the Afghan border and the area adjacent to the Line of Control (LOC) in the disputed territory of Kashmir, is restricted by local government authorities for non-Pakistanis. Travel to any restricted region requires official permission from the Government of Pakistan. Failure to obtain such permission in advance can result in arrest and detention by Pakistani authorities. Due to security concerns the U.S. government currently allows only essential travel within the FATA by U.S. officials. Travel to much of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Balochistan is also restricted.

The Governor of the Punjab province and the federal Minister for Minority Affairs were assassinated in Islamabad in January and March 2011, respectively. There have been targeted attacks on a provincial minister in Balochistan, university faculty in Swat, and an Iranian diplomat in Peshawar. Suicide bomb attacks have occurred at Islamabad University, schools, rallies, places of worship, and major marketplaces in Lahore and Peshawar.

Reports of religious intolerance rose in 2010-2011. Members of minority communities, including a U.S. citizen, were victims of targeted killings. Accusations of blasphemy—a crime that carries the death penalty in Pakistan—against Muslims as well as non-Muslims also increased. Foreign nationals including U.S. citizens on valid missionary visas have encountered increased scrutiny from local authorities since early 2011. Local authorities are generally less responsive and do not operate with the level of professionalism that U.S. citizens may be accustomed to in the United States.

U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan have been arrested, deported, harassed, and detained for overstaying their Pakistani visas or for traveling to Pakistan with the inappropriate visa classification. U.S. citizens who attempt to renew or extend their visas while in Pakistan have been left without legal status for an extended period of time and subjected to harassment or interrogation by local authorities. In 2011, the number of U.S. citizens arrested, detained, and prosecuted for visa overstay increased markedly across the country.

U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan have also been kidnapped for ransom or for personal reasons. Reported kidnappings include the June 2011 kidnapping of a U.S. citizen in Lahore; the 2010 kidnapping of a U.S. citizen child in Karachi, and the 2009 kidnapping of a U.S. citizen official of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Balochistan. The kidnapping of Pakistani citizens and other foreign nationals, usually for ransom, continues to increase dramatically nationwide.

Read the whole thing here.

Related articles

• State Department: Americans targeted for visa issues in Pakistan (cnn.com)
• Three U.S. citizens charged with helping Pakistani Taliban (thehill.com)
• Pakistan, US try to narrow differences as officials meet - Reuters (news.google.com)
• Pakistan imposes travel restrictions on U.S. diplomats (cnn.com)
• US warns Pakistan over curbs on diplomat travel (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

NOC! NOC! Who's there? Ambassador Munter Stopped at Pakistani Airport Over NOC, What's Next?

The US reportedly lodged a strong protest with Pakistani authorities after ambassador Cameron Munter was stopped at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport and asked about a "no-objection certificate" for travelling outside Islamabad.  He was travelling to Karachi, and the officials were supposedly enforcing a rule that requires "all" foreign diplomats to have a "no-objection certificate" or NOC for travelling outside the capital city.

Over the weekend, VOA also reported that diplomatic sources said that the U.S. embassy in Islamabad received a letter from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry last month setting new limitations on when and how diplomats can move outside the capital. The Associated Press, which obtained a copy of the letter, says the communique requires all U.S. diplomats to apply for special permission to leave the city five days in advance.

Oh dear! Something to remember about frienemies, the claws are never too far away. Makes one wonder what's next?  Quarantine the embassy's diplomatic mail and require a "no objection certificate" for every box from Amazon.com? 

Below Ambassador Munter enjoying a camel ride in Karachi's Clifton Beach. I wonder if Pakistan will now post officials at the beaches to enforce this rule that requires all foreign US diplomats to have a "no-objection certificate."

Ambassador Munter at Clifton Beach on the Arabian Sea
in Karachi, Pakistan

Don't be surprise if things are not going to get better anytime soon. This rather expensive "ally" in South Central Asia is still sore for the Bin Laden kill. It will find a way to let our folks there know just how sore they are. Today it's the NOC, tomorrow, it will be something else; like -- permission to shake hands with a Pakistani national?

But there is a solution to this. It's called "reciprocity" or if you want it straight, a tit for tat. If Pakistan requires a NOC for any travel by US diplomats outside of Islamabad, the US can require the equivalent of a NOC for any travel by Ambassador Husain Haqqani and other Pakistani diplomats outside of Washington, D.C. Yes, including travels to Maryland and Virginia, of course. 

But an even simpler solution? Wrap up Afghanistan 2.0 and bring the troops home. No more logistics/supply chain to worry about, period.  Hamid Karzai can go ahead and do his own nation-building without the "occupiers" that he loves one day and hates the next. Pakistan can continue worrying about India and its regional headaches; and China will be there to provide the aspirin. 

Of course, our hawks in Congress would have a fit.  They are still ever willing to burn a hole in the U.S. Treasury's pocket. Hungry children in America, forgetaboutthem.  Talk your heads off about the debt ceiling; there is no such thing as a war ceiling if some of our folks in DC have their way. And just so you know, our job creators are hard at work in the war zones and in the wars of the future not yet drawn but already imagined.

Related articles

• Report: US ambassador briefly detained in Pakistan (thehill.com)
• Pakistan imposes travel restrictions on U.S. diplomats (cnn.com)
• AP Exclusive: Timing of US drone strike questioned (sfgate.com)
• US warns Pakistan over curbs on diplomat travel (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• US plea to Pakistan to lift curbs (bbc.co.uk)

 

 

 

 

US Missions Iraq and Pakistan: Job Creation Surge Also On

Via US Mission Pakistan:

11-128, Dispatcher (In-House Candidates Only), Islamabad, Closing Date: August 15, 2011 (100 KB)

11-124, Automotive Electrician & A/C Mechanic, Islamabad, Closing Date: August 14, 2011 (PDF 57 KB

11-127 Engineer (In-House Candidates Only), USAID Pesahwar, Closing Date: August 11, 2011, (PDF 63 KB)

11-125 Acquisition Assistant, USAID Islamabad, Closing Date: August 11, 2011 (PDF 63 KB)

11-122, Economic Specialist (In-House Candidates Only), Karachi, Closing Date: August 10, 2011 (PDF 49 KB)

11-123 Consular Investigations Assistant (In-House Candidates Only), Islamabad, Closing Date: August 10, 2011 (PDF 49 KB) 

11-121 Engineer (Electrical), Peshawar, Closing Date: August 9, 2011 (PDF 66 KB) 

11-112 Electrician (Two Positions), Peshawar, Closing Date: Augsut 9, 2011 (PDF 64 KB)  

11-116, Political Specialist, Islamabad, Closing Date: August 4, 2011 (PDF 49 KB)

11-118, Engineer, USAID Peshawar, Closing Date: August 4, 2011 (PDF 60 KB)

11-119, Budget Analyst, USAID Islamabad, Closing Date: August 4, 2011 (PDF 63 KB)

11-120 Nurse (Part Time), Lahore, Closing Date: Open Until Filled (PDF 50 KB)

11-113 Information Assistant (Social Media Coordinator/Webmaster),  Islamabad, Closing Date: August 3, 2011 (PDF 50 KB)   

11-127 Engineer (In-House Candidates Only), USAID Pesahwar, Closing Date: August 11, 2011, (PDF 63 KB)

Via US Mission Iraq:

• Language Instructor FSN-07 Closing date: August 14, 2011
   
  
• Language Instructor, FSN-06 (T) Closing date: August 14, 2011
  
  
• Information Assistant, FSN-08 (Basrah) Closing date: August 14, 2011
  
  
• Personal Protection Specialist/Interpreter, FSN-08 (Kirkuk) Closing date: August 15, 2011
  
  
• Language Instructor FSN-06. Closing date: August 14, 2011
  
  
• Economic Assistant, FSN-07; FP-07*.  Closing date:  August 10, 2011
  
  
• Commercial Assistant, FSN-07 (Basrah).  Closing date:  August 10, 2011
  
  
• Security Investigator, Kirkuk (Trainee Level), FSN-09; FP-05*.  Closing date:  August 9, 2011
• Security Investigator, Kirkuk, FSN-10; FP-05*.  Closing date:  August 9, 2011
  
  
• Anti-Corruption Advisor, FSN-10; FP-05*.  Closing date:  August 9, 2011
  
  
• Anti-Corruption Advisor, FSN (Trainee Level), FSN-09; FP-05*.  Closing date:  August 9, 2011
• Deputy Security Liaison, FSN-9.  Closing date:  August 4, 2011
  
  
• Attorney, FSN-9.  Closing date:  August 3, 2011

Vacancies at the US Agency for International Development (USAID)  

• Administrative (EXO) Clerk, FSN-5.  Closing Date:  August 6, 2011

US Mission Iraq | Third Country Nationals

• Deputy Foreign Service National Investigator; FSN9. Closing date: August 15, 2011
  
• SIV Case Worker; FSN-6.  Closing date: August 11th,  2011
  
  
• Contracting Specialist; FSN-10.  Closing date:  August 7, 2011
  
  
• Visa assistant IV; FSN-7.  Closing date:  August 2, 2011

NOC, NOC - Who's There? The Diplomats. The Diplomats Whoever You Are, You're Not/Not Allowed to Enter Peshawar

Because, obviously, friends don't let friends travel to such a dangerous place. Har! Har! Har!

There is a new low in the battered relationship between the United States and Pakistan. For the fourth time in several days, US embassy personnel were stopped by local Pakistani security forces from entering Peshawar for lack of something dainty called a "No Objection Certificate (NOC)."

Pakistan's The Nation reports that "the government of Khyber Pakhtun-khwa has banned the entry of foreigners in the province without No Objection Certificate (NOC) of Interior Ministry." Excerpt below:

"The sources said the KP government took this step due to the law and order situation in the province.

The Home Department issued instructions to IGP that without NOC of the Ministry of Interior, no foreign national including diplomats could enter the limits of Khyber Pakhtun-khwa. If any foreigner was found in violation of the orders, he might be taken into custody."

Here's more from the same report. Now, I imagined that its reporters have examined those diplomatic cars and are reporting objectively that they all are "bullet proof with latest jammers."

"In another attempt of violation of Pakistani law, seven US Embassy personnel tried to enter Peshawar without complete travel documents, however, the officials turned them back to Islamabad from Peshawar Motorway toll plaza here on Wednesday. Sources said that seven personnel of US Embassy were travelling in three separate vehicles bearing registration number SV-706, ST-169, Q.H -790 and all of them were bullet proof with latest jammers."

You can read in full here. Wash your eyes afterwards.

Elsewhere it has been reported that the US diplomats told the local officials that they had been told by the US embassy that a NOC was not required for entry into Peshawar. Pakistani officials, apparently informed them that possession of diplomatic passports was not enough. 

What -- it's like you went to sleep one day and the next day Peshawar is a different country, with its own foreign policy and bilateral arrangements?

This is kind of like having New York declare that all Pakistanis traveling there not only need US visas, they must also get a New York No Objection Certificate from the state. Or for that matter, having the states of California, Illinois, Texas and Massachusetts (where there are Pakistani diplomatic posts) declare that no foreigners, including Pakistani diplomats may travel to those states without written permission.

I take it that the Chinese are also required to get a NOC? Hookay. Then the Pakistanis could argue that this is not plain, old, harassment of US diplomatic personnel in Pakistan. 

I supposed it would also be quite easy to show that those Americans are not being singled out. If the public can see how many foreigners, including those who want to kill and maim Pakistanis and Americans have been apprehended in Khyber Pakhtun-khwa.

Say, you think those Afghan Talibans or other terrorists on training go line up at the office and apply for a NOC?

Related articles

• You: 2 US Embassy cars stopped in Peshawar (nation.com.pk)
• Pakistan blast targets US consulate vehicle (msnbc.msn.com)
• Peshawar blast targets foreigners (bbc.co.uk)

How much is that pony in USA's Main Street window? Foreign money alleged to win friends and influence people in WashDC

On July 18, Dan Froomkin of HuffPost Politics writes about how foreign money can find its way into US political campaigns. Not just corporations but foreign governments are apparently opening up their wallets and spending tens of millions of dollars a year buying influence and friends in Washington by hiring well-connected lobbyists. The article quotes Benjamin J. Freeman, a post-doctoral fellow at the Project on Government Oversight, a nonprofit advocacy group that focuses on investigating waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government saying, "There's pretty clear evidence that foreign money is being used, at least indirectly, to finance U.S. elections." In February this year, HuffPo also highlighted a lobbying and PR giant in Washington representing Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Equatorial Guinea

On July 19, the US Department of Justice charged two individuals for conspiring to act as unregistered agents of the Pakistani Government. Foreign money of a different stripe, as these individuals are accused of conspiracy for pitching for Pakistan without declaring themselves agents of a foreign government:

Via DOJ/WASHINGTON – Two individuals have been charged with participating in a long-term conspiracy to act as agents of the Pakistani government in the United States without disclosing their affiliation with the Pakistani government as required by law.
[...]
Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, 62, a U.S. citizen and resident of Fairfax, Va., and Zaheer Ahmad, 63, a U.S. citizen and resident of Pakistan, are charged in a one-count criminal complaint in the Eastern District of Virginia.   The complaint alleges that the defendants have conspired to: 1) act as an agent of a foreign principal without registering with the Attorney General in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA); and 2) falsify, conceal, and cover up material facts they had a duty to disclose in matters within the jurisdiction of Executive Branch agencies of the U.S. government.

Fai was arrested this morning. Ahmad remains at large and is believed to be in Pakistan.   Both face a potential sentence of five years in prison if convicted.
[...]
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Fai serves as the director of the Kashmiri American Council (KAC), a non-governmental organization located in Washington, D.C., that was founded in 1990 and also goes by the name “Kashmir Center.”   The KAC describes itself in educational materials as a “not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising the level of knowledge in the United States about the struggle of the Kashmiri people for self-determination.”

The affidavit alleges that, although the KAC held itself out to be a Kashmiri organization run by Kashmiris and financed by Americans, the KAC is one of three “Kashmir Centers” that are actually run by elements of the Pakistani government, including Pakistan’s military intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI).   The two other Kashmir Centers are in London, England, and Brussels, Belgium.

According to the affidavit, a confidential witness told investigators that he participated in a scheme to obscure the origin of money transferred by Pakistan’s ISI to Fai to use as a lobbyist for the KAC in furtherance of Pakistani government interests.   The witness explained that the money was transferred to Fai through Ahmad, an American living in Pakistan.   A second confidential witness told investigators that the ISI created the KAC to propagandize on behalf of the government of Pakistan with the goal of uniting Kashmir.   This witness said ISI’s sponsorship and control of KAC were secret and that ISI had been directing Fai’s activities for the past 25 years.

When questioned by the FBI about these relationships in March 2007, Fai allegedly stated that he had never met anyone who identified himself as being affiliated with the ISI.   In March 2010, the Justice Department sent Fai a letter notifying him of his possible obligation to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Department.   In his written response to the Justice Department, Fai asserted that neither he nor KAC had ever engaged in any activities for or provided any services to Pakistan or any foreign entity.  In a March 2011 interview with the FBI, Fai again denied having any relationship with anyone in the Pakistani government.

The affidavit alleges that Fai has acted at the direction of and with the financial support of the Pakistani government for more than 20 years.   The affidavit alleges that four Pakistani government handlers have directed Fai’s U.S. activities and that Fai has been in touch with his handlers more than 4,000 times since June 2008.   Fai’s handlers have also allegedly communicated with Ahmad regularly.

For example, the affidavit alleges that Fai repeatedly submitted annual KAC strategy reports and budgetary requirements to his Pakistani government handlers for approval.  One document entitled “Plan of Action of KAC / Kashmir Center for Fiscal Year 2009” laid out Fai’s intended strategy to secure U.S. Congressional support in order to encourage the Executive Branch to support self-determination in Kashmir; his strategy to build new alliances in the State Department, the National Security Council, the Congress and the Pentagon, and to expand KAC’s media efforts. 

According to the affidavit, Fai also set forth KAC’s projected budgetary requirements from the Pakistani government for 2009, including $100,000 for contributions to members of Congress. There is no evidence that any elected official who received financial contributions from Fai or the KAC was aware that the money originated from any part of the Pakistani government.

According to the affidavit, Fai and the KAC have received at least $4 million, from the Pakistani government since the mid-1990s through Ahmad and his funding network.   The money is allegedly routed to Fai through Ahmad and a network of other individuals connected to Ahmad. Ahmad allegedly arranges for his contacts in the United States to provide money to Fai in return for repayment of those amounts in Pakistan. 

To date, neither Fai, nor Ahmad, nor the KAC has registered as an official agent of the Pakistani or Kashmiri governments with the Attorney General as required by FARA.

Active links added above.  DOJ reminds the public that an indictment and criminal complaint contain mere allegations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Some quick thoughts --

It would be interesting to find out which congressional campaigns allegedly received contribution from these folks.   DOJ was quick to say "There is no evidence that any elected official who received financial contributions from Fai or the KAC was aware that the money originated from any part of the Pakistani government." Well, sure ... sure ... but DOH had just charged these men; what kind of stinky slugs will come out during the court process remains to be seen. 

Then, of course, there is the allegation that at least one of the men charged has "acted at the direction of and with the financial support of the Pakistani government for more than 20 years." Really. If these allegation is true, are our congressional reps so stupid, all that time they have no idea what these guys were up to? If these alleged agents brought up the Kashmir subject at all, you'd think that our elected reps would have paid closer scrutiny to the source of their  political contributions?  Or is that really hard to do when they write you a check?  Unless they were all just kicking the can around and having tea and doing all that hard, hard work of legislating .... The timeline of the Kashmir conflict is here.

Also, if true that the money came from the GOP, that is, the Government of Pakistan, specifically from the ever so famous military-intel service (which has no idea UBL was hiding in Abbottabad), and given that country's really bad tax collection system, is it possible that the money allegedly used by these guys to gain friends in Washington, is from the same chunk of green bucks we sent over there to gain friends in Pakistan?



Oops! Did you hear me rolling around and laughing all the way there?  Well, let's hope this case is tried in open court and not behind closed doors filed under the folder of "national security."

Politico has more on the money angle here. Laura Rozen has additional reporting on the Pakistani Embassy's connection here.

Related articles

• Pakistani spies 'operating in Britain' (telegraph.co.uk)
• FBI Arrests Virginia Man Allegedly On Pakistani Spy Payroll (huffingtonpost.com)
• Justice Dept. Indicts Men It Says Were Fronts for Pakistani Intelligence Who Donated to U.S. Politicians (pogoblog.typepad.com)
• Pakistani 'agents' charged in US with Kashmir scam (telegraph.co.uk)
• FBI: Alleged Pakistani Agent Directed Thousands Of Dollars To U.S. Campaign Contributions (huffingtonpost.com)
• US-Pakistan relations worsen with arrest of two alleged spies (guardian.co.uk)
• FBI: Pakistani Spies Spent Millions Lobbying U.S. (foxnews.com)