Pak allows US embassy to ‘legally’ buy 264 houses in Islamabad

October 7th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has said that it has no objection over the planned expansion of the US embassy in Islamabad. Briefing a Sub-Committee of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Human Rights, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said Islamabad is not concerned about the expansion.

September 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson has expressed dismay at the Pakistani media's reports regarding the presence of 1000 Marines in the country, saying the reports of arrival of Marines in large numbers were baseless. "There are total eight Marines in Pakistan while the Pakistan media is reporting the arrival of 1,000 Marines, which is incorrect," Patterson said.

September 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The US embassy in Islamabad has raised security concerns over the multi-billion rupee private hotel project, due to which the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has virtually been forced to shelve it. According to The Nation, under pressure from the US embassy, the construction work at the site has been suspended and the owners of the hotel are now planning to shift the project to some other location.

September 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - China has once again expressed its concerns over the massive expansion work of the US embassy in Islamabad. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui met President Asif Ali Zardari here and told him about Beijing's apprehensions regarding the reported expansion of the US embassy.

September 12th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The United States will double the number of its diplomatic staff in the Islamabad Embassy after the planned expansion of its diplomatic mission is completed. The US is also planning to triple the number of its total staff.

September 9th, 2009 LAHORE - Amid reports of US' massive expansion plans for its Islamabad embassy, India too is planning renovation and expansion work for its embassy. According to sources, the Indian embassy has already acquired 10-acres of land in Islamabad's Diplomatic Enclave area to construct more offices and residences for the officials.

September 6th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Fazlur Rehman has said the United States want to create a mini Pentagon in Islamabad. The Nation quoted Rehman as saying that US' plans are threatening the country's sovereignty.

September 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - China has expressed concerns over reports of a massive expansion of the US embassy in Islamabad. Addressing a press conference here, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui said that the expansion of the American embassy should be in accordance with the rules and regulations of Pakistan and should respect its sovereignty.

September 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - China has said that Pakistan saved Beijing from embarrassment by persuading certain Islamic countries not to take the issue of ethnic violence in Xinjiang before the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Replying to a question while interacting with media persons at the Chinese embassy here, Chinese Ambassador Lou Zhaohui said: "Yes, Pakistan played its role in doing so." Zhaohui said Islamabad has been very helpful in assisting China counter the Xinjiang violence and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM).

August 28th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - US ambassador in Islamabad, Anne W Patterson, has clarified that the US embassy in Islamabad is being expanded in order to accommodate the additional staff needed to deal with increased financial aid to Pakistan, and not for any military purpose. The Daily Times quoted Patterson as saying that reports of an alarming increase in the number of US Marines to be stationed in the premises were baseless.

August 27th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Interior Advisor Rehman Malik has dislodged apprehensions regarding the stationing of US Marines in the Islamabad embassy, saying such an exercise is not part of US' expansion plans. Talking to media persons here, Malik rejected reports that Washington was planning a surge in its Islamabad embassy by sending scores of officials there including Marines.

August 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has rejected media reports regarding US' plans to send more Marines to its Islamabad embassy. Speaking at a weekly briefing, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said US has not yet formally asked for expanding its embassy compound or deploying additional security staff.

August 19th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) delegation met with US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on Tuesday and conveyed the party's concerns over the expansion in the US embassy in Islamabad and the drone attacks, besides raising the issue of Dr Aafia Siddiqui's detention. According to The News, the delegation comprising JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch and Naib Ameer Dr Muhammad Kamal met the US special envoy at the US Embassy.

August 14th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A US Marine has been accused of throwing his weight around a local resident in Islamabad. A complaint has been lodged against him for thrashing a youth in the city.

August 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit has said that the US embassy employee, who had pointed gun at a Pakistani cop in Islamabad, could be deported after being declared persona non grata. "The US diplomat who has pointed gun at Pakistani police officer can be deported after declaring him persona non grata," The Nation quoted Basit, as saying.