Diplomatic row after US embassy in Pakistan backs critical tweet of opposition

Javed Rana
Press TV, Islamabad

A new diplomatic row has started between Pakistani government and the US embassy in Islamabad. It happened after the American embassy officially retweeted an insulting post by a Pakistani opposition leader against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

This article of Washington Post has been at the heart of controversy. It was shared on Tweeter by a senior member of the opposition party with his own mocking comment that Pakistani brand of demagogue and dictator, an obvious reference to Prime Minister Imran Khan, would soon be ousted from power like the Donald Trump in recently held disputed Presidential elections.

The US embassy’s apparent official support to the opposition parties has come at the peak of their agitation campaign to dislodge Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government over alleged rigging in 2018’s general elections.

The controversial tweet triggered a widespread anger against the US particularly on social media which pressurized American embassy to seek apology saying its official tweeter account was used by an unauthorized member of its staff. However, the ruling party leaders like senior cabinet minister Dr Sherian Mazari dismissed US embassy’s clarification as being too little and too late. She warned the US embassy to get ready to face “serious consequences”.

Pakistan is passing through a critical period in the sense that the Opposition is there to dislodge the current government of the PTI.

This is no way countries like the United States giving this type of message. It shows some problem inside the chain of command.

Trump has blocked the funding of billions of dollar required for the traditional smooth transition of power in January next year to Joe Biden who now claims to be President-elect. However, Trump also claims to have won the Presidential elections blaming Biden to have won through electoral fraud.

Observers say the controversial tweet of the US embassy reflects not only an age-old fact of American interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs but also a deep seated contempt within the US administration for the current Pakistani President.

The controversy in Pakistan has coincided with US President Donald Trump’s decision to fire several defiant senior members of Pentagon including US Defense Secretary of State.

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