World | Pakistan
Government denies Blackwater presence
Malek says officials were misquoted
- By Mohsin Ali, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 February 10, 2010
Islamabad: The government told the National Assembly here yesterday that there was no presence of a private US security company in Pakistan.
Interior Minister Rehman Malek said US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and a Pakistani provincial minister were wrongly quoted in recent reports that Blackwater company was operating in the country.
"Both were misquoted by the media and they have categorically denied the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan."
He said a thorough probe carried out by the interior ministry, intelligence agencies including ISI and provincial governments had found no existence of Blackwater or its personnel.
Countersteps
Malek said he favoured an in-camera briefing to the lawmakers about internal and external security threats and the counter steps taken by the government.
He said six months back some foreigners were intercepted, including three at the coastal town of Gwadar in Balochistan province.
A probe revealed that all these foreigners were diplomats, the minister added.
"It is wrong to view every foreigner as being a Blackwater employee," he said, if anyone had proof it should be provided to him and he would take immediate action.
Malek said in 2003, during the Musharraf regime, an agreement was signed with US security company DynCorp for capacity building and training of Frontier Corps and the training was carried out under that accord.
He said that licence of Pakistani Inter-Risk security agency which provided security to foreigners had been cancelled for violating rules and possessing illegal arms.
The minister said that the US government had granted $46 million (Dh168.9 million) for capacity building of law enforcement agencies of Pakistan. Japan, France and Australia had also extended capacity building help, he added.
"People should have confidence in the government; we would not allow anyone to undermine country's security and stability," he said.
He said the assembly could set up, if it so desired, a committee to look into the issue of alleged presence of private US security company in the country.
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