US apologises over 'mistreatment' of Pakistani military delegation

Islamabad, Sept 3 097(ANI): The Pakistan defence ministry has said that the United States has apologised for the misbehaviour of Dulles Airport officials with the Pakistani military delegation and has assured of taking necessary measures to avoid such untoward incidents in future.

The Pakistan defence ministry released a statement saying that US Under Secretary of State for Defense, Michelle Flournoy, called up Pakistan's Defence Secretary Syed Athar Ali, and "apologised over the mistreatment meted out to Pakistani military delegation", the Dawn reports.

"Syed Athar Ali expressed serious concern over the incident and emphasised the need for an institutionalised mechanism where such like incidents are averted."

"Ms. Flournoy assured secretary defence that all necessary measures will be institutionalised after mutual consultations to avoid recurrence of any untoward incident in future," the statement said further.

The nine-member Pakistani military delegation was deboarded from a plane at Dulles airport, Washington. Although the delegates disclosed their identities and showed relevant documents, they were reportedly detained and interrogated for over two hours. When they were released, they had already missed their flight to Tampa, Florida.

The US Department of Defense issued an apology, but the delegates had by that time received directions from Pakistan to cancel the meeting. (ANI)