LAHORE:
Following reports of an unauthorised trip by US embassy officials to Gilgit-Baltistan, an intelligence agency’s report has expressed serious concern regarding the “secret movement” of foreign missions/diplomats in the country, including covert meetings with officials and private persons – without informing either the foreign office or the interior ministry.
The report, cited in an interior ministry circular has advised foreign missions to avoid this practice to prevent any “untoward incident.”
The report states that a number of foreigners have been found visiting prohibited areas without obtaining a No-Objection Certificate (NOC). It also directs law enforcement agencies to not provide direct security to any foreign missions/diplomats until the foreign office formally gives them details of their presence and programme schedule.
The American officials had directly written to the Gilgit-Baltistan police chief, asking him for security, and arranging for meetings with various lawmakers and professionals.
Following these reports, the interior ministry, other intelligence and law enforcement agencies and the prime minister have taken strict notice, sources said. In this regard, the interior ministry’s National Crisis Management Cell has issues guidelines to all provincial home departments, police chiefs, and heads of law enforcement agencies.
Fake number plates
Intelligence reports also said that a number of bulletproof diplomatic vehicles, equipped with weapons, are being used around the country with fake number plates.
The circular states that diplomatic vehicles were temporarily allowed to use alternative number plates after the 2008 Marriot hotel bombing in Islamabad. This practice has continued in Islamabad as well as different parts of the country, the report adds. The prime minister, according to the reports, has directed law enforcement agencies to immediately take into possession all such vehicles and return them to their countries of origin.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (19)
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@Topak Khan: bollocks man! dont you have any idea? US is establishing bases there as well to plan insurgency and terrorism across the border in China. This is why its prohibited because Raymond Davis's camera showed pictures of Bunkers at BRB canal at Lahore. Likewise GB is also a place where india and US needs intelligence in terms of geography, topology, terrain and producing local assets there!
@S: "And the visa that you get states where you can and can’t go, that defines prohibited areas. Its not only in Pakistan, India do it too and so does a lot of other countries"
India and PAkistan do mark specific cities when they give visas to each other's citizens. But this is an anomaly not the norm. US citizens getting Indian or Pakistani visas are allowed to move anywhere in the country. The reverse is also true. Pakistani/Indian citizens who get US visa can travel anywhere in US without prior permission.
@vigilant: "Why not brand diplomatic personals who are no following guidelines as persona non-Grata and them back to their country"
Do Pakistani diplomats in other countries including US take permission to travel in that country? No. So what is so unusual if foreign diplomats travel within Pakistan without permission? Forget diplomats. DO ordinary Pakistanis who live in US or UK take prior permission before travelling to different parts of US or UK? No.
I can understand if they are not allowed in nuclear installations - but surely going to Gilgit does not qualify as 'sensitive place' which requires prior permission?
If your country starts doing what you are suggesting, remember, same rules will be implemented on Pakistani citizens. And please note there are far more Pakistanis in those countries than vice-versa.
As a resident of GB, I welcome international attention towards our plight. We have been, for all practical reasons, colonized by Pakistan, with the help of army and intelligence agencies. Sectarianism is being used as a too to divide the people, to crush political dissent.
The political leaders of the so-called assembly are pawns in the hands of agencies. The Chief Minister is on record saying that 2800 people across GB are working for intelligence agencies.
If Pakistan cannot give us what we deserve and demand, i.e.political identity, then we shall have all the rights to seek help and support elsewhere.
@ Feroz, for your information, Pakistani diplomats just can't go anywhere in the US without the prior permission from the State Department. I recall when two Pakistani ambassadors, Sultan Khan and Iqbal Akund were invited to Kansas State University, paid by the university, they had to clear their visit from the State Department to come to Kansas and KSU and there was no security arrangements requested from our ambassadors. I myself picked up our ambassadors Sultan Khan and Iqbal Akhund at different occasions from Kansas City International airport and drove to Manhattan Kansas, home of the KSU.
We are hiding what? Technology is so advance any body can find out a any object any where It is 2012 .Wake up Pakistan
@Radiant Metal: stop propagation
Gilgit is a prohibited area? Then why are you promoting it as a tourist destination? And its hardly a "secret" visit if they are notifying the police beforehand?
When things get lousy you can always pull out of the anti American distraction card - works every time.
@True Muslim Paki: "This will also stop drones." No it won't.
More Raymond Davis episodes in the making? We don't want any further humiliations. We should shut down all US & western missions declaring them as threat to national security & sovereignty. This will also stop drones. I hope Sir IK declares this in his election manifesto. PTI is the only hope.
@Topak Khan Feroz, you are missing the point, foreign diplomats should not move like this secretly, or without permission from ministry. And the visa that you get states where you can and can't go, that defines prohibited areas. Its not only in Pakistan, India do it too and so does a lot of other countries
Why not brand diplomatic personals who are no following guidelines as persona non-Grata and them back to their country.....this practice must be stopped.....and i don't understand why these diplomats have to visit sensitive area and meet private members of society??
US Diplomats held extensive meetings with variuos sub-nationalist "leaders". The sub-nationalist criticized the Chinese presence in the area. They said that they want separate state. The US Diplomats held lot of unscheduled meetings and encouraged the anti-Pakistan stance. Why Federal Government allowing such activities in sensitive regions of the country??
For how long will we treat GB as prohibited area and not a part of Pakistan?