Anti-America feeling in Pak impeding Obama's efforts against Taliban, Al-Qaeda

Washington, Sep.25 (ANI): With the Pakistani authorities refusing to grant visas to several US civilians and military officials in the recent past, the Obama Administration's efforts to help Islamabad fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda have been severely dented.

In recent weeks, Pakistan has rejected as 'incomplete' at least 180 U.S. government visa requests.

Reports being flashed in the Pakistani media regarding America's intention to establish a military base in the country and deploying 1000 marines in the Islamabad embassy have given rise to a new wave of anti-American sentiments in Pakistan.

"Tension has been fueled by widespread media reports in Pakistan of increased U.S. military and intelligence activity including the supposed arrival of 1,000 Marines and the establishment of 'spy' centers in houses rented by the U.S. Embassy in the capital," Washington Post report said.

While US ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson has rejected any plans to deploy Marines in Islamabad and has publicly labeled such reports as 'false' and 'baseless', President Barack Obama's Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, has admitted that there is serious discontent regarding the American policies among the Pakistanis.

"We recognize that Pakistani public opinion on the United States is still surprisingly low, given the tremendous effort by the United States to lead an international coalition in support of Pakistan," Holbrooke said after his meeting with Pakistani officials in New York.

Many Pakistanis see the United States as the latest in a long line of usurpers, the report added.

Experts also expressed doubts over the US' intentions, and believed that Washington is eyeing Pakistan's nuclear assests.

"I definitely have concerns about the Americans' intentions here, especially that they would like to get access to our nuclear assets. The U.S. mind-set is suspicious of strong Muslim states, and there is a certain imperial arrogance in their behavior that Pakistanis like me don't like," said a well-known analyst and newspaper columnist Shireen Mazari. (ANI)