contra
Senator (1k+ posts)
Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/envoys-lette ... 235-2.html
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New Delhi: It's getting increasingly difficult for Pakistan to argue in the international forum that it is a democratic country :twisted: . Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington confessed in an explosive letter that he wants Islamabad to compulsorily seek input from embassies and weigh the costs and benefits before moving against foreign institutions and individuals.
It is being seen as an official conformation of what many journalists have complained for several years - Pakistan has a black list of journalists and NGOs which are sometimes critical of the country. :o :x :evil:
The explosive, confidential letter by Hussain Haqqani to his own Foreign Secretary, Internal Secretary and the ISI Chief has questioned Islamabad's denial of visas to American journalists and researchers.
Dated July 28, 2009, the letter - in CNN-IBN's possession - bears the seal of the Pakistan Ambassador who questions many of Islamabad's recent decisions.
The letter lists:
a) The harassment of CNN Correspondent Reza Seyah and NBC journalist Richard Engel. :x
b) Cancellation of the visa of Newsweek photographer Kate Brooks. :x
c) The non-renewal of visa to the Asia Foundation chief and the director of the International Republican Institute, whose chairman is Senator John McCain. :x
The letter significantly lifts the veil off the Pakistani policy of "physical intimidation and harassment" of journalists. :o :shock: :x :evil:
Haqqani warns :roll: in his letter, "Over-reliance on physical intimidation and harassment causes bitterness and resentment. Additionally, the subject becomes more careful thus making surveillance that much more difficult."
He also questions the competence :? of the personnel tasked with keeping an eye on foreign organisations and foreign media and suggests that surveillance of any kind be conducted unobtrusively and with sophistication.
Warning that Pakistan risked adverse Congressional hearings and potential restrictions on aid and military sales :P, Haqqani questions whether the perceived threat from CNN and NBC or the Asia Foundation and the International Republican Institute is serious enough to warrant persistent hostility to these organisations. He wants the agencies in Pakistan to re-evaluate their judgement.
Experts say that Haqqani's letter is a reflection of the rift in the Pakistani establishment :!: - the power struggle between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Geelani, who is close to the :evil: ISI :evil: . Haqqani, close to President Zardari, obviously targets the ISI ;) :twisted: .
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New Delhi: It's getting increasingly difficult for Pakistan to argue in the international forum that it is a democratic country :twisted: . Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington confessed in an explosive letter that he wants Islamabad to compulsorily seek input from embassies and weigh the costs and benefits before moving against foreign institutions and individuals.
It is being seen as an official conformation of what many journalists have complained for several years - Pakistan has a black list of journalists and NGOs which are sometimes critical of the country. :o :x :evil:
The explosive, confidential letter by Hussain Haqqani to his own Foreign Secretary, Internal Secretary and the ISI Chief has questioned Islamabad's denial of visas to American journalists and researchers.
Dated July 28, 2009, the letter - in CNN-IBN's possession - bears the seal of the Pakistan Ambassador who questions many of Islamabad's recent decisions.
The letter lists:
a) The harassment of CNN Correspondent Reza Seyah and NBC journalist Richard Engel. :x
b) Cancellation of the visa of Newsweek photographer Kate Brooks. :x
c) The non-renewal of visa to the Asia Foundation chief and the director of the International Republican Institute, whose chairman is Senator John McCain. :x
The letter significantly lifts the veil off the Pakistani policy of "physical intimidation and harassment" of journalists. :o :shock: :x :evil:
Haqqani warns :roll: in his letter, "Over-reliance on physical intimidation and harassment causes bitterness and resentment. Additionally, the subject becomes more careful thus making surveillance that much more difficult."
He also questions the competence :? of the personnel tasked with keeping an eye on foreign organisations and foreign media and suggests that surveillance of any kind be conducted unobtrusively and with sophistication.
Warning that Pakistan risked adverse Congressional hearings and potential restrictions on aid and military sales :P, Haqqani questions whether the perceived threat from CNN and NBC or the Asia Foundation and the International Republican Institute is serious enough to warrant persistent hostility to these organisations. He wants the agencies in Pakistan to re-evaluate their judgement.
Experts say that Haqqani's letter is a reflection of the rift in the Pakistani establishment :!: - the power struggle between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Geelani, who is close to the :evil: ISI :evil: . Haqqani, close to President Zardari, obviously targets the ISI ;) :twisted: .
