Is foreign ‘concern’ over a domestic issue warranted?
The United States Embassy on Friday expressed ‘deep concern’ over the ongoing bloodshed in Karachi and urged the parties involved to refrain from further violence.
The unusual statement issued by US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter commenting on a domestic issue is contrary to diplomatic norms.
Opposition parties have immediately termed the American envoy’s remarks as ‘interference’ in the internal affairs of the country.
While involvement of the US in Pakistan’s domestic affairs is widely speculated, a public statement issued on such matters is rare.
“The United States Embassy is deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Karachi. We call on all parties to refrain from further violence and work towards a peaceful resolution of differences,” said Ambassador Munter.
“The loss of over 60 lives, including women and children, in the last three days is a tragedy. We extend condolences to the families and friends of the innocent victims,” he added.
Repeated efforts to reach the foreign ministry spokesperson on telephone were futile as she did not respond to phone calls.
Violation of diplomatic norms
A government official, who requested anonymity, acknowledged that Munter’s statement was clearly in violation of diplomatic norms.
The US embassy has issued statements condemning suicide bombings and other acts of sabotage in Pakistan on a number of occasions in the past but the statement on Karachi’s situation is a first of its kind by the American envoy, the official added.
“Ambassador Munter has not only expressed concern over the killings in Karachi but has also asked the parties involved to refrain from further violence – that has never been the case before,” he said.
“He is not supposed to issue such statements.”
The official, however, was not sure if the issue would be taken up with the US embassy.
The US embassy spokesperson tried to downplay it.
“Anytime there is a loss of life, we do express our concerns,” said Courtney Beale.
‘Interference’ in domestic affairs
The statement has drawn strong reaction from the political parties.
“Such statements are unwarranted,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senator Pervaiz Rashid.
He said the entire nation, including the government, is responsible for the failure to take care of its own affairs which has provided an opportunity to outsiders to interfere in domestic affairs.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2011.
COMMENTS (21)
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There's nothing wrong with such a comment. I'd say people remaining completely silent when something is going on, who has a voice that reaches far enough, is the shameful one. Is the government just mad that the US shamed them and their bleeding hearts with a small statement amounting to more concern than the whole group them had shown? Get your priorities straight.
We are a sick nation. We are defensive about everything. We have conspiracy theories to blame everything on foreign elements. We are indeed a nation that is a running joke.
Beggers are not the choosers. Americans don't care about diplomatic norms. Drone attacks and Abottabad operation are examples.
Soon after the Ambassador's statement, Karachi returned to peace. We need more statements like this from the Ambassador.
The moneylender is charging its interest (not in cash but in kind as free advice). Please pay and obey respectfully, as long as you require money in any form (cash, kind or alms).
we beggars deserve this. Weshould focus on doing that what is right for Pakistan by being honest in every way and thus strengthen ourselves. Crying over embarrassing statements or protesting against them will serve no purpose.
Wake up Pakistanis. It is time to shun all bad habits and practices. It is time to be united for personal and national dignity, honour, well being and progress.
we beggars deserve this... next time we go to beg from other master in beijing, we will hear the same. Better we get used to this.. what respect do we have internationally?
It's called free speech and American's are not going to stop talking just because it happens to embarrass Pakistan. Perhaps you should focus on fixing the problem rather than trying to stop the embarrassing statements.
I think we are the lamest nation (if that be the case) on the face of the earth, If the same concern had come from Saudi Arabia or Turkey. I am sure that might not have been even reported, at the same time Almost every person in this country would have been treating this as if one "Muslim brother" having been concerned about another "Muslim Brother" (albeit on a feeble note). I dont seem to understand why this is in anyway wrong for US to be concerned about Pakistan. Countries do that no big deal we live in Globalist Environment. Remember it was the US concern that made the Christian Serb leave Bosnian Muslims. Pakistan has not yet reached that class in a social society and I wonder not why.
It is quite apparent that the government has failed to protect the life and property of its citizen. As a Pakistani living outside it is a matter of grave concern that every day innocent life is being lost and not a single minister is resigning for the failure of law and order situation. As recent crisis is not contrllod then it is the right of Pakistani to call for the outside intervention to stop the bloodshed in Karachi.If more innocent life is lost then we may call for resignation of Mr. Zardari for his failure to contain the situation in his province.All respoonsible for killing innocent people must be brought to justice.Otherwise the Karachites living abroad may file a pettion in United Nation and world court of justice to try its leaders including Mr. Rahman Malik for the killing of its citizens and destruction of properties.It is high time for the responsible parties to learn a lesson from Libya, Yemem and Serbia.
When thousands of people start dying as people within a country begin to kill each other, it's definitely time to interfere. Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Rwanda, Kashmir, Palestine, Bosnia - innumerable examples.
Yes this is warranted. When Saudi Arab built Mosques and Madrassas in Pakistan and when US financed your health and education sectors then they have the complete right to show concern over our domestic issues. I am studying PhD on HEC scholarship from US money and in my district only, 40,000 families are receiving BISP cash which is again funded by US. When the time comes that Paki give income taxes upto 40 per cent of their income then we will not need foreign assistance and so at that time if the world show concern over our domestic issue than that will be a problem. Now it is not a problem.
Will some one please say who is killing whom and for what purpose please?
Munter was quite right. Was the massacre of Bengalis in East Pakistan by the Pak army not an 'internal affair' of Pakistan? Aren't the killing of protesters by the state security forces in Bahrain and Syria the internal affairs of those countries? Munter is here. He sees and hears about what is going on as the government looks the other way. Besides his country helped Zardari into power so it is natural for him to feel unhappy at the prevailing chaos.
This is certainly a 'humane issue' and any person with his heart in the right place will feel concerned at this senseless fratricide. Salams.
The government has no control, Karachi is like a war zone without the state's writ. Why are the opposition parties bickering over what the Ambassador says. Should they not be proposing a plan to retake Karachi?
Client state is one of several terms used to describe the subordination of one state to a more powerful state in international affairs. - Wikipedia.
When domestic leaders call Karachi violence a violence carried out by some unknown persons or ,by third hand and beside it all law enforcing forces just wait for orders which never reach till Karachi become normal. At such stage one can calculate what you are actually hiding. I see in near future American Marines Involvement in Karachi directly what to say about just comments from Mr. Munter.
well we are sort of like the unofficial 53rd state of the USA. i dont see any reason why they shouldnt interfere