200 Urdu speaking Blackwater officials cleared at Islamabad airport sans security checks

Islamabad, Nov.4 : Over 200 Urdu speaking officials of the private US security company, Blackwater, touched down at Islamabad's international airport late on Tuesday.

According to sources, all the officials arrived at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport by a PIA flight which they had boarded from London.

“Of the 274 passengers, who boarded Pakistan’s national flag carrier-PIA, flight PK-786 from Heathrow Airport UK, 202 were foreigners but they were fluently speaking Urdu language,” The Nation quoted the sources, as saying.

Sources revealed that the airport authorities were directed not to carry out security checks on any of those foreigners.

Meanwhile, former Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg, while blaming former President General Pervez Musharraf for the current chaotic situation of the country, has claimed that the former general had given Blackwater the green signal to carry out its terrorist operations in the cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta.

Amid strong reactions from different quarters, the controversial US private security company, Blackwater has increased its presence in Pakistan.

According to sources, the company has hired at least seven houses in Karachi’s posh Defence area.

It also been learnt that Blackwater has acquired hundreds of acres of land near Pataro in Sindh in order to launch a supposed Agriculture Research Institute.

It may be noted that security officials had apprehended an alleged agent of Blackwater, Craig Davis, from Peshawar.

Davis, who was forced to return back then has reportedly returned again and resumed his activities.

However, the US embassy has maintained complete silence regarding Blackwater hiring homes in Karachi.

The United States has already made it clear that it is in contact with several US security agency regarding providing security cover to its various establishments in Pakistan, but has never admitted it openly that it has hired the services of Blackwater.

“As far as security agencies are concerned, we are in contact with local security agencies, and similarly the discussions are underway with the US agencies as well,” US Deputy Ambassador to Pakistan, Gerald Festine had said.

--ANI