International

Not a reflection on Pak.'s ability, says U.S.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington March 23. Even while withdrawing some diplomatic staff and all families from Pakistan, the Bush administration is making it clear that the move does not reflect on Pakistan's ability to protect Americans.

The sentiment has been conveyed to the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, in the course of a telephone call from the Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

"He (Gen. Powell) made it clear that this decision doesn't reflect any lack of confidence in Pakistan's ability to protect Americans.

We really appreciate the efforts of President Musharraf and his Government'', the State Department's deputy spokesman, Philip Reeker, said on Friday. "After a careful review of our security posture in Pakistan, the Department has decided to move to an ordered departure of all dependents and non-emergency personnel'', Mr. Reeker said.

The "ordered departure'' a relatively new and a rare procedure, is different from an "authorised'' departure in that in the case of the latter, the U.S. will make available flights home to those who wished to leave the country or the post.

The U.S. has an embassy and three Consulates in Pakistan but the personnel being ordered home are not being identified for security reasons.

Two Americans were killed last Sunday during a deadly grenade attack on a church in Islamabad; prior to this Daniel Pearl, the South Asia Bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal was abducted and brutally murdered.

Following the church attack, the American embassy in Islamabad had gone on an "authorised departure'' process.

Following the terror attacks of September 11, the U.S. went on the "authorised departure'' mode in Pakistan but allowed dependents back this January.

"We believe that the war against terrorism in Pakistan is far from over and that we will be able to carry it on with greater focus if our dependents are not present at U.S. facilities there'',Mr. Reeker said.

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