Another
irritant in
Pak-US relations
By: Mohammad Jamil
A recent report on the violations of the protocol of diplomatic conduct
by US Embassy indicates that the CIA officials in the cover of diplomatic
immunity are taking advantage of the host country’s hospitality. Despite
Pakistan’s repeated requests, neither proof of the unregistered officials from
the CIA, nor identification of US diplomats, administrative and technical and
service staff have been provided. In April 2012, the Foreign Office had advised
the diplomats from various missions that they have to seek permission from the
Pakistani government for carrying lethal weapons, all of which should be
licensed, as the law requires.
According to the report, on June 4, 2012, two SUVs from the US Embassy
were stopped at the M1-Exit on their return from a visit to Malakand. The
vehicles were reported to be carrying four US officials and three Pakistani
staff members, along with four M-4 rifles with 36 loaded magazines of 20
bullets each and four pistols with 36 loaded magazines. In 2010 also, the US
diplomats and Embassy staffers were scouting around our cities loaded with guns
and video-filming our sensitive areas, like Lahore Cantonment and other places,
on cars bearing fake number plates. The vehicles were impounded by the law
enforcement agencies for using fake registration papers and number plates. One
should ask the Americans whether Pakistan’s top diplomat and other employees
stationed in Washington are allowed to take such ‘liberties’, as their
diplomats and staffers are indulging so freely.
The question, however, could be: as to what were their staffers doing
in a sensitive area like Gwadar? They need t understand that the basic
responsibility for their protection lies with the Pakistani government, and if
they have to outsource their security to private agencies, it should be within
its knowledge. In fact, there should not be dual responsibility because in case
of any mishap, Pakistan would be held responsible. But the Americans are in the
habit of blackmailing and bullying. It was after the news of renting houses in
large numbers by the US Embassy that the Chinese Ambassador had expressed
concern over the increased strength of American missions in Pakistan.
Washington had lodged a strong protest with the Government of Pakistan on the
arrest of some US Embassy employees and impounding of their vehicles in Islamabad,
Lahore and Karachi who had violated the Vienna Convention.
The Prime Minister had ordered setting up a top-level inquiry
committee, headed by the Interior Minister, comprising three Federal
Secretaries as well as the Director General of the ISI. But one does not know
as to what were the findings of the committee and, perhaps, the report would be
put in the cold storage. The US Embassy had claimed in its letter that the
Embassy, its consulate generals in Lahore and Karachi and their employees have
been using vehicles with false number plates under an agreement with the
Government of Pakistan in wake of the serious security threats. Quoting the
Vienna Convention, it was stated: “The Ministry is reminded that pursuant to
Article 22(3) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Embassy
property and means of transport of the mission shall be immune from such
registration, attachment or execution.”
Though there are Articles in the Vienna Convention about privileges and
immunities to the diplomatic missions, yet there are other Articles by which
they are under obligation to respect the laws and regulations of the host
country, and should not interfere in the internal affairs of the country that
is evident in Article 41.
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