Wasiq Ali:The ‘Blackwater in Pakistan’ Furore: Who Benefits from Spreading the Lies?

By Wasiq Ali
This article was published on Wasiq Ali’s blog on September 29, 2009

A massive furore has been created over the supposed presence of Blackwater in Pakistan by the likes of Ahmed Quraishi and Shireen Mazari and websites like Pakistan Spectator, Pakistan Ka Khuda Hafiz, Pak Alert and articles like ‘American NGO Covers for Blackwater in Pakistan’ or ‘Expel Blackwater and US Marines from Pakistan.’

 Who is funding these people? Why are they driving this paranoia? And above all who is benefiting by this?

 

More on the Inter-Risk Story

An excellent post on the Inter-Risk controversy from New-Pakistan.com:

There has been much chatter recently about security companies in Pakistan and whether that is a threat. This despite a complete lack of explanation for what the threat is, or any evidence that a threat exists at all. The latest story comes from a raid on the offices of Inter-Risk, a Pakistani security company that was hired to protect American officials with the US Embassy. This is more than just a storm in a teacup, though, it is a dangerous distraction from the real threats to Pakistan.

On Monday, Dawn published an editorial that quite nicely addresses the misinformation about Inter-Risk most heard among the chatter. First, there seem to be some undefined conspiracies about why Embassies are using private security companies in the first place. This is simply ridiculous. Almost all Embassies use private security companies of one sort or another, and it is no secret that American officials are at particular risk.

The media has been up in arms and spreading conspiracy theories about US Marines protecting the Embassy (even though that is common practice throughout the world). So what is left? Leave the Embassy with no security at all? I am positive that Baitullah Mehsud would have loved for Embassy officials to have no protection, but what peace loving Pakistani would support that? Besides, with Inter-Risk we are talking about a Pakistani security company. Now the media is spreading false rumours about our own security companies? Dawn makes the point perfectly:

Dawn Editorial: Security and Threats

This Editorial was published in Dawn on September 21, 2009

Unless there is something in particular that the security firm assisting the Americans is doing wrong, there is little sense in opposing a firm that is after all providing jobs and training to Pakistanis. The raid on the office of a Pakistani security firm providing security to the American embassy in Islamabad has raised more questions than it answers. The paperwork for the weapons seized by the police, including those requiring special permission, appears to be in order and as yet no official has explained the illegalities the security firm is suspected of committing.

 

Pakistan’s Pseudo Patriots Shown in True Light

By K.M. Rizvi
This article was posted on RationalPakistan on September 20, 2009

For the last two weeks there have been numerous stories floating around about the U.S. private military contractor Blackwater operating inside Pakistan. Websites led by pseudo-Patriots and Conspiracy Theorists like Shireen Mazari and Ahmed Quraishi have pushed these theories. They have claimed knowledge on the basis of their “close ties to the military-intelligence establishment.

Rational Pakistan and many other like-minded websites have on the other hand been trying to present the truth to Pakistanis –Blackwater is not operating inside Pakistan.

Today we feel vindicated by the following story in the Daily Times

Pakistan’s Conspiracy Theorists: Nationalists or Instability Creators

By Yahya Hussainy

English essayist and poet Samuel Johnson once said, Patriotism is the last resort of a scoundrel. By that well-known definition what should one think of the fact that ever since the civilian government came to power in Pakistan there has been a rise in the number of Pseudo-Patriots and Conspiracy Theorists?

Taliban Apologist Ahmed Quraishi Instigates Followers to harm Pakistan’s Ambassador to U.S.

This article appeared in RealPakNationalists on September 15, 2009

Ahmed Quraishi who is a Taliban and Jihadist apologist and once took pride in calling himself the Master of “Immaculate Deception” has now openly called on his Jihadist/Conspiracy Theorist/Taliban sympathizing right-wing nuts to harm or kill Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S. Ahmed Quraishi’s instigation comes in a post titled ‘Husain Haqqani to ISI: Let Blackwater In.’

DT Edit: Negative Side of Hating U.S.

This Editorial appeared in The Daily Times on September 14, 2009

Mr Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, has written to the Foreign Office and the ISI complaining that journalistic and institutional visas to Americans were being denied through the device of withholding “clearance”. In an understatement, the ambassador added that this could “damage” Pakistan’s image. The Foreign Office, of course, can hardly help, given its low profile in such matters, but the ISI must give it serious thought.