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Former envoy harming Pak's interests in US: Sartaj Aziz

Aziz was referring to former US Ambassador Hussain Haqqani who was sacked by the government at the army's behest.

Islamabad: Pakistan's former ambassador in the US was "lobbying against his own country" and "creating hurdles for the government", the country's top diplomat said on Tuesday, apparently referring to Hussain Haqqani who was sacked by the government at the army's behest.

"A former Pakistani ambassador is working against his own country in the US," the Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the National Assembly without naming the ex-ambassador.

He said that Pakistan's diplomatic mission in the US is facing challenges due to the former ambassador's campaign.

"This person is trying to tackle all our diplomatic efforts in boosting the bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States," Aziz was quoted as saying by Dawn.

He was "lobbying against his own country" and "creating hurdles for the government", Aziz said.

The adviser added that the "Foreign Office has serious reservation on the activities of the said person in the US."

According to knowledgeable sources, Aziz was referring to Haqqani who was appointed as ambassador during rule of former President Asif Ali Zardari and later sacked at the insistence by army which was not happy with his working.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused Haqqani earlier this year by naming for working against F-16 planes deal, which was unsuccessful as US congress refused to fund the purchase of eight latest F-16s.

Haqqani, who served as Pakistan's ambassador to the US from April 2008 to November 2011, was sacked for allegedly authoring a memo seeking Washington's help to prevent a coup in the country.

( Source : PTI )
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