Pakistan's Ambassador to US, Husain Haqqani offers resignation
Sources added that Ambassador Haqqani told the President that he was being targeted for vilification by innuendo.
The Pakistani Ambassador was unavailable for comment.
The letter comes days after the Government called Ambassador Haqqani back to Pakistan. At the time, an embassy spokesperson said that Husain Haqqani would leave for Pakistan after "fulfilling his already scheduled meetings with congressmen and other senior US officials."
(Read: PPP Core Committee meeting: President to summon Hussain Haqqani for briefing)
Following the publishing of that report, the Ambassador tweeted in response to a question from a follower that summons for a briefing by the President was a normal event.
Another source claimed that Ambassador Haqani said that he had never really wanted the job in the first place and only did it for democracy and the President.
The source added that the Ambassador said that he has offered to resign and was happy to be a part of any inquiry, and that his fate is in the hands of the President.
The source said that the Ambassador will be travelling to Pakistan in the coming days as he had been asked to.
Rumours about the Ambassador's role in the allegations levelled by Mansoor Ijaz about the memo to Mullen on the sacking of Pakistan’s generals and the involvement of President Zardari and Ambassador Haqqani in the plan have been doing the rounds for days in Pakistan and the United States.
Reports of Haqqani’s offer to resign came hours after the Ambassador addressed a breakfast meeting organised by a US newspaper, where he talked about US-Pakistan relations.
Addressing the breakfast meeting, Ambassador Haqqani said, "The average American does not look upon Pakistan as a reliable ally. The average Pakistani does not look upon the United States as a friend.”
Sources also denied rumours that Ambassador Haqqani had moved out of his official residence.
COMMENTS (48)
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Ambassador Haqqani's resgnation will be Pakistan's loss. I don't think there is anyone who can do a better job in current circumstances. Not an enviable job at all, as the comments on this article show.
Mansoor Ijaz is on payroll of establishment and USA high officials as well. Such goons are ever willing to sell out their loyalties to their soil and conscience against few pennies. I wonder, how foolish we are that just believe and article written by Mansoor Ijaz. The memorandum he talks about, was denied by Mike Mullen at first but later a master plan was weaved to malign image of renowned and most efficient ambassador of Pakistan Hussain Haqqani and Govt and Pakistan including President Zardari. One wonders why we are neglecting important points regarding memorandum to Mike Mullen. First, It was president himself who extended tenure of General Ashfaq Pervez Kiani and ISI chief. Further more both the institution is on the same page, claimed several times by the top brass of both the institution. How can be possible that President wrote a letter to Mike Mullen? Ambassador Hussain Haqqani is a true patriot and was the strong and only link to keep Pak-US ties afloat. He saved strenuous ties between both the countries several times and indeed he is an asset. It a well hatched conspiracy to dislodge and malign image of Hussain Haqqani.
@Cautious and bangash Seriously? What is it about HH that dazzled the socks off you guys? What has that guy done so spectacular? If anything in the last 3 years we have the worse relations with US and that has to do with the fact, that HH panders the American viewpoint more than the Pak viewpoint. As an Ambassador your job is to sell your country's viewpoint, protect its interests and lobby its policies. Its not about morality, butterflies and cute babies. Have you seen how aggressively Israeli and Indian diplomat lobby their interests in Washingtont, its quite admirable how they aggressively defend their policies. That is how its suppose to be and that is what HH was suppose to do, instead he spent a good training American officials on how to tightened their grip on Pakistan. He severely damaged Pak interests, and no I am not a crazy conspiracy lover, the details on HH sketchy manoeuvring have been outlined in Bob Woodwards book Obama's War.
Haqqani was the most effective Pakistani Ambassador ever. It will be a loss to Pakistan if he leaves.
Good job with firing Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan. Well done, I say. Brilliant move. Kudos. Bravo! Wahji Wah! -- Love, Your across-the-border friends.
"Never disturb your enemy when he is committing suicide." -- Napoleon Bonaparte.
Good, all Goofs must be happy on this upcoming "job opportunity". All the best guys.
@anybodyagree: We dont hate USA. We hate the fact that the US has double standards. As far as the $$$$$ is concerned. Keep it. Convince your politicians to stop paying our politicians.
@Insider: He said .... he took the position for democracy and the president !!! Democracy in PAKISTAN !!! Moron !!!
The public should now begin to understand why the military has been seizing power in our history after regular intervals. It is only now, with this free media thanks to Musharraf, that these things come out in the open. This man should not be permitted to just resign and stay put abroad. He has to return and face the music so that the nation knows clearly whether it was his personal adventure or government policy. I would personally believe it was the latter.
It was a real tough job for HH to convince that Pakistani army was not in bed with OBL after being found in Kakul. Now all of a sudden so many Pakistanis who never "trusted Western media" are taking an opinion of just one paper as a page from a holy book! Where is their logic that this media always lie like WMD in Iraq. However, when it comes to the elected govt of Pakistan each western paper is prophetic! Big organizations like NY and LA Times, CNN are all false, except when one of them is against democracy in Pakistan. Here is another publication which gives the other side of the story but it must be false as it does not favor the protectors of terrorists! http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/tarek-fatah/pakistan-newsb1095960.html
@Cautious: I'm sure every other country is filled with honesty and love.if you dont get it that was me being sarcastic. Grow up and face a real world. Pakistan shall protect its interests first whether you like it or not. Have guts then come face to face otherwise just stop whining
Haqqanis are locals who have never ever harmed the state of Pakistan in any way whatsoever and there is no justification on any attack on them. If you want to take em to the courts, Most welcome.
One Haqqani has got to go. Hussain or Siraj. Choice has been made and the price will be paid.
The charge against Haqqani is serious; shall one, tolerate to be interfered by an outsider at his home ?
USA did not explain to the establishment what they meant, when USA demanded "action against the Haqanni network". Now the "Haqanni network" is broken.
Very nice Mr. Haqqani, save Pakistan from one US policies seller. I hope you are put under trial for giving the spies Pakistani visa under guise of diplomats.
Kick him out. He always has been first American than a Pakistani
Haqani should have resigned much earlier.He has damaged Pakistan beyond repair.In fact he is American Ambassador sitting in Pakistan Embassy in Washington DC.Get lost.
I have heard not only the ISI/Army was not happy but RAW also had certain reservations against him.
ARMY dictating the government that who is going to be the ambassador to US.Obedient Civilians are trying to comply.Is this democracy???
WE HATE USA ....BUT WE LOVE $$$$$....Double Standard,,,,,,????
If Mr Haqqani is an American citizen, then our President has a lot of explaining to do.. Have we verified that our ambassador to India is not an Indian citizen? And our ambassador to England not a British Citizen?
Finally action against the Haqqani network!
Haqqani is the Fall Guy.
This is tricky and complicated as well as sensitive matter. There is need to move cautiously and carefully without spoiling our relation with the stakeholders, Mr Haqaani is extremely criticized from media as well as common Pakistani nationals.He needs to be replaced by an acceptable apparently more palatable personality who can bridge the gaps between the two countries as well as satisfy the people of Pakistan. In Pakistan a balance between armed forces and political class is of great significance for smooth sailing. Both shall understand the national interests ans work within safe limits.Unfortunately the present ruling junta specially president and prime minister seems to be corrupt, and out of the way loyal to American interest rather the national interest. They must understand WHAT IS NATIONAL INTEREST OF PAKISTAN.
He feels at risk in coming to Pakistan for a number of reasons, including unsavory conditionalities against the Establishment in the Kerry-Lugar Bill. Therefore, he feels safer to resign than to travel to Islamabad, or the country he ostensibly represents. His wife Farahnaz Isphani has been a close adviser to Zardari ever since Haqqani became Ambassador. Is it not bizarre and unnatural that both husband and wife have lived separately since Haqqani has been at his post???
So Haqanni is getting sacked on the orders of Kayani ? Welcome to democracy. Pakistani style.
Financial times is not a tabloid. The truth is now coming out. Expect elections soon.
Seems like senior PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party ) Staff has started to jump ship.The size of Imran Khans Rally has really helped in the future career decisions being taken by Shah Mehmood Quraishee( who wants to join fellow Aitichonian in PTI ,,,, and now Mr Haqqani...
Quote from Article: "Another source claimed that Ambassador Haqani said that he had never really wanted the job in the first place and only did it for democracy and the President" If the above is puslished word by word ---- I wonder if Husain Haqqani ever thought of serving for Pakistan before democracy or President itself:)
On other hand seems like that the Mansoor Ijaz story is showing its weight!
yeah kindly resign with your whole team. He is on the pay role of Prince group, the famous killer CEO Eric prince of black-water. Actually Haqqanni was working for American interest and Zardari knew that. Because all the scam this government has done since 2008 the money was invested in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and American Investment banks through connections of Mr Haqqani. Thanks to American Businessman Mansoor Ijaz he showed all his Blackberry messages to FT and Wall street journal. Still Zardari and Rehaman Malik says he is Innocent... For God sake kick PPP PML-q MQM ANP out of Pakistan.
This is a sad day for democracy and a huge win for the establishment. Ambassador Haqqani was one of our best ambassadors and really fought hard to make Pakistan's case in the highly charged environment in Washington. Specially post 02 may 2011, when the Pakistani establishment was caught red handed with OBL, he did a terrific job pleading Pakistan's case in the hostile environment. Sadly, I see Pakistan being led by establishments boys like Imran Khan and Shah Mahmud Qureshi in the near future. Democracy will be taking a step backwards once again.
Oh really! So we have to wait for an offer before we can fire you!
Hurry up and accept his resignation. NRO beneficiary, corrupt, never thinks in pakistans interest.
Ambassador Haqani said that he had never really wanted the job in the first place and only did it for democracy and the President.
!!!NOT FOR PAKISTAN !!!
i really dont him to resign,,,i want him to be sacked with humiliation...people like him have and can only damage a country,,,they are just good for themselves... you know this was the main guy with shareef brothers when they were making fake cases against BB & zardari and now he is best friend of zardari...and he accpeted job for zardari , what a joke.... i dont like BB or zardari but at least a person should have a stance on anything apart from money and power lust.
"Pakistan's Ambassador to US, Husain Haqqani 'offers' to resign: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Actually its Pres Zardari who should be resigning.
This is extremely sad. The military has had a very controversial history with the civilian leadership( as Haqqani himself wrote in his book in 2005). After he was appointed Ambassador, despite his apprehensions about the military, he left it all behind in order to start afresh with democracy an military working together.
For four years he has been taking PUNCHES left and right from American media and government, yet he was debunking and "spin-doctoring" every allegation leveled against the military and the civilian administration. The Establishment saw him as a threat even though they fail to realize that were it not for Haqqani's continuous work in U.S.A. promoting Pak's image, we might have well stopped getting the aid that the military secretly has always wanted despite what they show in public.
Mr. Haqqani, don't try to blame the military for putting pressure on you, your back chanel letter was published in the Financial Times who thoroughly check their sources before printing. You should be tried for treason.
Pakistan's loss if he actually resigns.
He should be brought back to Pakistan and trialed for his impudence. But he won't come back like Altaf Hussain and Pervez Musharraf
So the allegation was true!
What a thankless job --- anyone who watched the telecast of the Ambassador meeting with US Senators after the OBL disaster would get a small taste of just how tough a job it is being an Ambassador to a country which plays both sides of the fence.
So it means that HH is accepting that he was the one who passed the memo to Mansoor Ejaz from AZ for Admiral Mullen. I think HH is being made a scapegoat to save humiliation for AZ. YRG please accept HH resignation before he changes his mind to offer his resignation and now this time let us have a Pakistan ambassador to the US and not US ambassador to Pakistan. Look at the pity of our democracy that now the most powerful PM in the h/o Pakistan(post 18th amendment) will ask the constitutionally lame duck president should I accept HH resignation.
finally..........he is going.
i have no problem with haqqani's personal views that pakistan needs to control the military.....however when you represent a country abroad, you have to put your own political agenda aside and represent the country in the best light........
he has been going around and undermining his own country's military......for better or for worse, military is the only institution that has solid leadership/command and control and that can provide support to the nation in time of dire need, we can disagree on political motives of some of the generals but we shouldn't undermined the military
Good riddance!
Mr Haqqani. YOUR FIREDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD