Blackwater present in Pakistan: Minister

Peshawar, 07 February, (Asiantribune.com): Senior Minister of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, Bashir Bilour admitted on Saturday and said that the US private security company Blackwater is at present in Pakistan and is operating in the NWFP as well as in other areas.

Bilour who is also the central leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) said his party never rejected the claim that Blackwater is operating in the NWFP .

The minister was talking to relatives of the injured schoolgirls at the DHQ hospital Timergara on Saturday.

The girls were injured in the attack by TTP militants in Koto, lower Dir wherein three American marines were killed.

When asked about the presence of the US soldiers and the Black Water, Mr Bilaur said he never denied their presence in the country, adding they had been there to provide security to the staff of US consulate, operatives and foreign NGOs.

Later on while addressing a news conference at the Jirga hall Balambat, Bilour reiterated that the ANP had been the frontline political party that was being targeted by militants.

He said the NWFP government and the ANP had been bravely fighting against the militants who had been playing in the hands of foreign foes.

“Despite threats we did not lose heart, stand firm against the militants and restored complete writ of the government in the entire province,” the minister said, adding that the ANP would never step back from its stance to flush out militancy from the region.

The minister announced that relatives of those killed in the Koto blast would be provided Rs300,000 and the 40 seriously injured would be given Rs100,000 each soon.

Last month too, the minister acknowledged the presence of Blackwater, besides Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira in January also admitted that US security agencies were present in Pakistan after several months of denial.

- Asian Tribune -