[Peace-discuss] A profit without honor...

[C. G. Estabrook]

	MPs urge Gates expulsion from Pakistan
	Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:05:33 GMT

Pakistani opposition lawmakers have urged the Islamabad government to expel 
visiting US Defense Secretary Robert Gates from the country.

Prominent opposition lawmaker Khurshid Ahmed told Press TV that Gates is 
maneuvering to force Pakistan to allow American security contractors into the 
country.

The remarks come after the US Defense Secretary confirmed that the US firms were 
operating in private capacities.

However, Gates added that the companies were abiding by Pakistani laws.

The opposition parliamentarians have protested Gates' visit to Pakistan 
accompanied by a huge delegation.

Opposition lawmakers accuse US security firms, including Blackwater, now known 
as Xe Services, of looking to locate Pakistan's nukes, under the cover of NGO 
activities.

Blackwater has gained widespread notoriety for killing civilians, with impunity 
and absolute immunity from prosecution, in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 
few years.

A former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence had earlier told Press 
TV that the notorious firm, Blackwater, was involved in the deadly drone attacks 
on Pakistani territories, which usually result in civilian casualties.

"I learned somewhere that these people are employed certainly for the logistic 
support at the drone bases. That is understandable," Asad Durani said earlier in 
January.

Gates will try to win support from Pakistani leaders on the US war strategy in 
neighboring Afghanistan.

President Barack Obama and his NATO allies have ordered 40,000 more troops into 
war-weary Afghanistan which was invaded by US-led coalition forces in 2001.

Senior officials in Islamabad have said that Obama's new Afghan war strategy and 
the troop surge may destabilize Pakistan.

Hundreds of militants fled into Pakistan to escape the US-led invasion of 
Afghanistan, plunging the whole region into violent turmoil and instability.

JR/MTM/DT

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