Ambassador Husain Haqqani arrives home in memo row

Husain Haqqani returns to Islamabad in the wake of the leaked memo controversy.


Afp November 20, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's ambassador to Washington returned to Islamabad Sunday to explain himself over claims that he wrote a letter seeking US help against the country's powerful military.

Hussain Haqqani, a close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, has played a key role in helping Pakistan's civilian government navigate turbulent relations with Washington that nosedived over the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Local media reports implicated Haqqani in a memo allegedly sent from Zardari to Admiral Mike Mullen, then America's top military officer, seeking to curtail Pakistan's military shortly after it was humiliated by the bin Laden killing.

Zardari reportedly feared that the military might seize power in a bid to limit the hugely damaging fallout in Pakistan after Navy SEALs killed bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad on May 2.

The alleged memo, released last month by American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, said that a "new national security team" in Pakistan -- with US support -- could end ties between Pakistani intelligence and militants.

A senior government official told AFP that Haqqani "arrived early Sunday and is due to attend several meetings including a meeting with the President to explain the situation".

Haqqani has offered to resign over the row, but has denied any involvement with the document.

Pakistan's opposition leader Nawaz Sharif on Saturday demanded an independent commission to investigate the issue.

 

COMMENTS (37)

ksri | 12 years ago | Reply

@Myra: No one will criticize the military if it uses all its resources on protecting the country against foreign/domestic enemies. But the moment it steps into running the country/companies then naturally its policies will be under the scanner and it cannot escape criticism.

Boohiss | 12 years ago | Reply

Shame Shame . . . .Too much greed has led these humans to Treason and selling off their country and oppressing their people in the name of democracy. . . . another sad day in the oppressed history of Pakistan under the fasade and deception of democracy. No one should wonder why Pakistani citizens are just content and feel safe under military rule . . . .One has to understand, that, it is because they have been stung many many times by the corrupt civillian government calling itself the high and mighty democracy in a country where voter turn out is very weak and small due to security issues. So, it is not the rule by the people, of the people or for the people, or not even democracy in the true sense. The corrupt leaders advocating the sale of the country's sovereignty should be labelled as traitors for their treasonous acts!

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ