'James Bond in Peshawar

You greet someone at your door but he pushes you back and forces himself into your home; what happens next? Surely your reaction would be very much hostile and aggressive. Same must have been the reaction of the security staff when some Americans, posing to be the members of US diplomatic crew, refused to provide their identity, dismantled the security hurdles with the push of their Land Cruisers and rushed into the already troubled area of Peshawar on 21st of this August. But the sensible security staff sagaciously behaved otherwise; just to avoid further confrontation in spite of the fact that they had complete authority to tackle with the situation by using all possible means and stop the so-called escaped diplomats; their authority included the action of ' chase and shoot also. Such stubborn and obstinate attitude is nothing new on the part of the US diplomats in Pakistan. For the last many months, there have been reports regarding violation of security rules and regulations at the hands of US diplomats in different cities of Pakistan including Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. To avoid occurrence of such incidents in future and to secure the foreign diplomats from the reaction of the public as well as from the rage of terrorists, the government of Pakistan introduced some new security measures on the suggestion of the law enforcing agencies after the Raymond Davis episode in Lahore. These security measures include issuance of a No Objection Certificate to the diplomats in case they wish to travel to some other city from their place of posting. This NOC is supposed to be issued by the concerning office working at the GHQ Rawalpindi. The diplomats have been directed to keep that NOC with them while travelling and to produce when asked for. Most of the diplomats are very kindly following the instructions of the government of Pakistan in this regard keeping in view the diplomatic norms and traditions but the attitude of the US diplomats is usually otherwise. They behave as if they are Kings and princes and above the law. They react in a very aggressive and violent manner whenever stopped at a check-post for identification. Such type of attitude only increases the growing hatred and disliking for them among the Pakistani nation. It is a common belief that in Pakistan most of the so-called US diplomats are secret agents of CIA and their mission is to strengthen CIA network working in various parts of Pakistan. Raymond Davis is a case in point. At the time of his arrest Raymond also claimed to be a US diplomat and tried to prove his identity with the help of some fake documents but later on he was exposed as a CIA contractor. The US authorities must try to accept the reality that with the passage of time things in Pakistan have very much changed for them. Pakistan of today is not the Pakistan of 1980s. The growing US-India closeness, US interference in Afghanistan and the brutal drone attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan; all these factors have cultivated in nothing but a strong disgust and extreme loathing for the US in Pakistan. In such an unfriendly atmosphere the stubborn attitude of the US diplomats may prove a serious threat to the US existence in the region. PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER, Multan, August 24.

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