Pakistan protests arrest of Ghulam Nabi Fai

From Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jul 22 (PTI) The Pakistani government has
lodged a protest with the US over the arrest of Kashmiri
separatist Ghulam Nabi Fai and accused Washington of running a
"slander campaign" against Islamabad.
"A demarche was made to the US Embassy in Islamabad
today to register our concerns, in particular the slander
campaign against Pakistan. Our Embassy in Washington has also
been asked to ascertain details," said a statement issued by
the Foreign Office here last night.
The Foreign Office statement lauded the role of Fai,
who was arrested in Virginia earlier this week for allegedly
funnelling at least four million dollars from Pakistan's spy
agency into American political activities with the aim of
influencing American policy on the Kashmir issue.
"We appreciate the contributions made by the Kashmiri
American Council and Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai for the cause of Jammu
and Kashmir," the statement said.
It contended that the Kashmir issue is "one of the
oldest disputes on the agenda of the UN" and that there were
"several UN Security Council Resolutions on the subject that
affirm the inalienable right of the Kashmiris to
self-determination".
The Foreign Office claimed that "upholding fundamental
rights of Kashmiris is the fundamental responsibility of the
international community and all conscientious people who value
human rights and values".
It contended that 62-year-old Fai's Kashmiri American
Council "has been working towards this end and Kashmiris
appreciate and applaud its services".