Blackwater: Is all in name?

PESHAWAR: The official circles have been constantly denying the presence of ‘Blackwater’ in the country, but very few know the highly controversial company exists nowhere in the world even with its old name as it has been named as Xe Worldwide LLC since last February.

Also, worries are there over the reported deal being negotiated between the US Embassy and administration of the Pearl Continental (PC) to establish diplomatic mission in the lone five-star hotel of the provincial capital. Activities at the hotel are already at halt since the bombing of the facility on June 9.

The top government officials, including federal interior minister Rahman Malik, are correct in denying the presence of Blackwater in the country as the name of the company has been changed to Xe Worldwide LLC or simply Xe since February 13. There is no security company with the name of Blackwater anymore in any part of the world.

The naib amir of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan and former senior NWFP minister, Sirajul Haq, lashed out at the rulers, saying the Blackwater or Xe Worldwide has not only hired its headquarters in University Town, but a building has recently been constructed for them in tribal Mohmand Agency.

“The first news that I got on my return after performing Umrah yesterday was that the building for that company in Mohmand Agency has been completed. They are also hiring PC now, which is close to the Governor House, Chief Minister House, Corps Commander House, NWFP Assembly and headquarters of police and other security agencies,” Siraj said.

He was of the view that the entire project is being led by the American Embassy in Pakistan.

“We are planning to create awareness among the public over the issue, discuss it with the intelligentsia and mobilize a public resistance movement against the growing activities of foreign security personnel,” the JI naib amir said.

Arbab Mohammad Tahir, the spokesman for the Awami National Party (ANP), which is ruling the province, did not offer comments when approached through telephone. He said how his party can comment on the issue when even the presence of the Blackwater or Xe is yet to be proved, adding the American and Pakistani governments have time and again denied the presence of the US security personal in the country.

“This is the propaganda of religious parties that have sympathies for the militants. The ANP will comment only over the issue when their existence will be proved,” Arbab Tahir added.

The University Town Residents Welfare Society had expressed concerns on behalf of its 800 members over the presence of large number of foreigners, who have been hiring buildings in the purely residential area. The dwellers and visitors have observed the suspicious movement of foreigners moving in the suspicious cars, with tinted glasses, in the locality for the past several months.

When asked whether the weapons these foreigners are carrying in their vehicles were licensed, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Peshawar said he has “no information”. The Frontier Police chief had already denied the presence of foreign security officials in his area.

There were unconfirmed reports that the personnel of Xe have been living in the city in the guise of the officials of the NGOs and other bodies, lodged in several bungalows in the posh University Town.

Apart from the spacious US Consulate on Hospital Road in Cantonment, a single country is said to have hired 25 buildings on Circular Road, Chinar Road, Gul Mohar Lane, Park Road, SAQ Road, Jamaluddin Afghani Road, Park Avenue, Rahman Baba Road, Railway Road, AB Road and Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Road in the University Town. These reports have been denied every time.

MPA Ateefur Rahman, whose constituency includes the University Town as well, categorically denied the presence of suspicious foreigners in his area. “This is all speculations,” he told The News.

“This is a residential area, but several bungalows have been hired now for the offices of the foreign bodies,” lamented a senior office-bearer of the University Town Residents’ Society.

The Xe is a private military company founded as Blackwater USA in 1997 by a wealthy American, Erik Prince. The organisation operates one of the world’s largest training facility, spread over around 6,000 acres, which trains more than 40,000 people a year, mostly from American or foreign military and police services.

Apart from JI, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf have also expressed concerns over the reports of growing movement of foreign security personnel in Pakistan.

“We have been hearing about the deal of selling or renting out the PC to the Americans. This will disappoint thousands,” remarked Nadeem Malik, who along with his son survived the June 9 blast.

At least 17 people were killed and over 50 others injured in the powerful bomb blast in PC on June 9. Though denied by the investigators on every occasion, there were reports that those killed in the blast included foreign security officials, staying at the hotel.

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