Islamabad: Pakistan's Ambassador to the US
Hussain Haqqani has said he has not been fired and "doesn't
expect to be", due to an ongoing controversy over stringent
conditions attached to American aid to be provided under the
Kerry-Lugar bill.
"I serve at the pleasure of the President and Prime
Minister of Pakistan and will follow any instructions I've
been given...So far I've not been asked to alter my
responsibilities nor have any questions been raised about my
conduct," Haqqani said.
In an interview with the website of a leading US
magazine, Haqqani made it clear that he had not been fired and
"doesn't expect to be", due to the fallout in Pakistan over
the Kerry-Lugar bill, which envisages providing 7.5 billion
dollars in aid over five years.
The Pakistan Army has expressed "serious concern" about
condition attached to the US aid that it claims could affect
the country's security interests.
Opposition parties have criticised the Pakistan
People's Party-led government's efforts to endorse the bill
without seeking changes in the conditions.
Media reports have suggested that several conditions in
the Kerry-Lugar bill that are aimed at strengthening the
civilian government's control over the Pakistani armed forces
and curbing the military's role in politics were included due
to Haqqani's efforts.
The influential Dawn newspaper has reported that Haqqani
would be replaced due to criticism that he was responsible for
the fallout from the US bill.
Dismissing these reports, Haqqani said he would meet
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during his current trip
to the US. Qureshi yesterday began an unscheduled visit to the
US to inform the American leadership about Pakistan's concerns
on the conditions in the Kerry-Lugar bill.
The government decided to send Qureshi to Washington
after a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez
Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence agency chief Lt Gen
Ahmed Shuja Pasha on Saturday.
Haqqani has a close relationship with the Washington
establishment but his critics in Pakistan target him for his
close ties with the US. Top American officials dealing with
Pakistan, including Special Representative Richard Holbrooke,
are taking steps to address the negative impact of the
Kerry-Lugar bill.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 18:01