US rejects reports about Blackwater's covert activities in Pakistan

Islamabad, Nov.26 (ANI): The United States has rejected media reports regarding the presence of controversial private security firm, Blackwater, in Pakistan.

"There is no secret operating base in Karachi or anywhere else in Pakistan being run, occupied, or otherwise operated by US military personnel of any command or organization," a statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad said.

"US government programs for Pakistan are open and transparent and function in partnership with the Government of Pakistan," The Dawn quoted US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson, as saying.

It may be noted that a US newspaper had reported that an elite division of Blackwater (Xe Services) are conducting a secret programme from Karachi in which they are planning targeted assassinations of suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives.

Citing highly placed sources in the US military intelligence, the report said : "The covert forward operating base, run by the US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), is being assisted by Blackwater operatives in gathering intelligence."

It said that the programme was so 'compartmentalised"' that even the top officials in the Obama administration and the US military might not be aware of its existence. (ANI)