Visiting US envoy Richard Holbrooke, defending America’s new, stringent airport security measures, says that he too has to go through intensified screening. But the outcry from Pakistan on this issue suggests his defence won’t go down well with the public.
Travelers from Pakistan are to undergo extra security screening according to new rules put in place by the Obama administration. With Pakistan bearing the unparalleled brunt of the war on terror and as no passenger with a Pakistani passport has directly caused panic at a US airport, the measure seems harsh. Moreover, owing to a strict and very stringent visa policy, a majority of people who visit the US from Pakistan are either businessmen or other professionals.
Frequent travelers half-jokingly say that they fear arrest on landing in the US, especially if they’ve ever spoken to someone named Osama (very funny, folks). Adding to their ire is the fact that in addition to being screened and subjected to long queues at home, they will have to suffer the humiliating behaviour of US airport security staff. For their part, students fear cavity searches and businessmen are afraid of a night in detention for even having a Muslim name. Pakistani travelers fear that unless screening is applicable across the board, regardless of nationality or religion, the discriminatory measures will add to their woes of being foreign and Muslim in the West.
Human rights groups have long argued that such draconian practices are discriminatory and go against basic human rights. Foreign policy experts are calling the measures over the top. And more investment in airport security is making taxpayers question the billions that are already being spent on intelligence gathering and sharing.
In response, many in Pakistan have started asking for harsh conditions for travelers from the US. One analyst believes that Pakistan must reciprocate with making cavity searches and separate queues for flights originating from the US, but also argues that due to the donor-recipient relationship, Pakistan cannot take any drastic steps.
The fact is, there is a tenacious scepticism being faced by the US in Pakistan, and Washington must refrain from further aggravating the situation. The new security measures are forcing left-wing parties such as the PPP to utter right-wing words to calm public sentiment. The PM, president and Foreign Office have had to join the chorus of public outrage and anger against what is being seen as anti-Pakistan policies despite the country’s best efforts to fight a US proxy war. After the mess of US foreign policy during the Bush era, the Obama administration faces a mammoth task of strengthening ties and helping America’s image abroad.
Ultimately, the US needs to give more thought to the relationship with a key ally. Perhaps policy makers in Washington ought to read Benjamin Franklin, who wrote: “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Do you think the new airport security measures are too stringent? If you have recently traveled to the United States, share your experience with airport security staff with Dawn.com.
Osama Bin Javaid is a Senior Duty Editor at DawnNews TV.
The following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
US government double standard policies are known in the entire world. On one hand US wants Pakistan to kill its enemies and on the other hand Pakistani national traveling to USA are subject to discriminatory immigration policies.
Pakistan’s Immigration Authorities should reciprocate US nationals in Pakistan in the same way as Pakistani nationals are treated in USA by US Immigration Authorities.
At the time of arrival at any Airport in Pakistan, our Immigration Authorities in addition to photographs, they should take fingerprints of US nationals, so that NADRA should maintain data of each and every US national, as how many times a US national has been to Pakistan and what is the purpose of his/her trip to Pakistan?
You have to factor in what will make the masses feel secure. At the moment the mere mention of the word Pakistan in an airport setting in US is enough to make the other passenger feel alarmed. This is something I have repeatedly noticed while flying extensively within US.
They have to protect their people. Unfortunately when we look at statistics, religious extremism is rooted deep within Pakistan.
People are apprehensive & it is unnerving to travel by air these days. Either don’t travel or live in US, or if one does then be ready to comply by their rules. After being subjected to intense multiple random searches for a long time, I realized when they ceased doing so, it is simply profiling & scrutiny. Once reassured everyone backs off.
If USA or any country who is pat searching Pakistani’s then Pakistani’s should not feel bad. Pakistani’s don’t want a suicide bomber sitting next to them in plane.
Yes the measure is discriminatory, but do you blame US, most terror schemes are hatched in Pakistan. Let’s clean our own house before we demand respect from others. We have to earn respect not demand it.
It is humorous to read comments about reciprocating security checks of Americans at Pakistani Airports. Americans perhaps care less about such checks if implemented at the same time they are not as eager to come to Pakistan as millions of Pakistanis are to go to USA. American tourists will stop coming to Pakistan if they disapprove such security measures.
Do you think Pakistanis should be excluded from new US airport security measures?
No! If Pakistanis have problems with self-respect they should stop going to US
Mr. DAN says that based on the fact that most people caught planning terrorist attacks were Muslims and most of them were Pakistanis.
I completely disagree with you Mr. Dan. How many passengers found to be Pakistanis onboard the planes which were attacking US in 9/11.
Why US is not subjecting Arabs to these security measures?
What innocent Pakistanis have done until now to conduct any terrorist attack in US?
US is using these innocent Pakistanis in their war against terror and then humiliating them at the airport and conducting security measures’ like name check’ while granting VISAS.
Every Pakistani living in the USA is suspected of helping, sympathizing or involved in the world wide terrorism. This discriminatory attitude has made life for the Pakistanis a misery and intolerable.
It is not on the USA airports that they are hand picked for security checks but also on their daily chores.
I think its absolutely required!
I have never traveled to US and do not intend to do so in the foreseeable future. I advise fellow countrymen to avoid going to that place of insult.
I have quite a few traveling experience within USA. However, I found much anxiety while reading the newspapers than going through security measures at the airport.
For safety reasons, every country has the right to scrutinise anybody who seeks entry into their country or aircraft or any other means of transportation. Americans did not start this scrutiny out of no where. It is based on the fact that all the persons caught for planning terrorist activities have been muslims and majority of them from Pakistani origin/links. We must appreciate that the US safety mechanism is making efforts to make the innocent people’s life safer. If Pakistanis want to do tit for tat with Americans by subjecting them to similar scrutiny at airports/ports, they can also do that. But they will not do that.
The new body scans proposed may sound harsh but travellers to USA are used to high security. Even though I last travelled there mid 2007 when you pass through their security you have to put all your belongings except clothes into a tray, which gets scanned. You could not carry a bottle of any liquid either.
It was not the security or frisking that hurt. I was bothered that by the time I reached the other side after frisking whether my belongings(wallet,credit cards,cash,valuables,cell phone etc) would still be there OR would somebody have walked away with it.
That the 3 countries with the biggest Muslim populations – Indonesia, India and Bangladesh are not in the list of 14 carries a message too. Their Governments irrespective of their majority Religious denomination will battle to preserve their composite secular culture. What the World thinks matters little to those who are scared.
You shouldn’t be so offended by this move. It is my understanding that is not just Pakistani citizens that will face additional security, but it is people traveling from Pakistan. So, there are Americans who travel to Pakistan or who live in Pakistan, and who are not associated with the government, and they will also face the additional screening. You also need to remember that it affects 14 different countries, not just Pakistan.
The reality is that this was done in the wake of an attempted BOMBING, not just an idea out of thin air. Remember, there had never been an attempted attack from a Nigerian before, so proper security procedures need to address the “risks”, not just what was attempted before.
It is an attempt to deal with threatened attacks on the USA and so a “tit for tat” response would be silly, since the threats are different for those coming to the USA as opposed to Pakistan.
No, I am pretty certain every traveler from Pakistan will not get “body cavity” searches. You will probably most likely be individually “wanded” like at most banks in Pakistan and “pat down” like going to higher security places like certain government offices and airports in Pakistan.
I think US immigration is the most humiliating place on earth. Been there on several times, I know that they will make sure that we regret our visit to US.
An intensified search at U S an airport, of travelers with Pakistani passport seems discriminatory and excessive and is embarrassing for the traveler, arriving from Pakistan. American government should try to find ways and means to reduce the pain and embarrassment which, these innocent people are made to face for no fault of them.
Pakistan has been listed with dangerous countries, travelers from these countries have to undergo through strict process of checking at airports of western countries.
I am unable to agree with the suggestion that Pakistan as reciprocal measure, should introduce stringent process of checking for the passengers arriving from United States. It will not sooth the situation. It is sad reality that there is vast terrorist net work in some areas of the Pakistan and it has proved its ability to act and operate thought out the country. To some extent the strict measures adopted at airports of western countries are not altogether uncalled for.
Pakistani govt. need to step it up and ask the US government to reconsider this position immediately. Being silent is worse than atleast trying. As a nation, Pakistanis should not give up hope ever to let the world know that we have self respect and would not stand for this measure. It is humiliating for any human being to go thru this with kind of screening.
Pakistan Should body search all american also and if we dont like to be searched at American airport why dont we just stop visiting there to be humiliated, make sense doesn’t
When discrimination is claimed, the basis must be explained. Is it based on race, country, religion, continent etc.
The 14 countries subject to additional security searches are: Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Yemen.
It is apparent that there is no discrimination.
Why are Indians, Israelis, Russians, Poles, Chinese, Malaysians not subjected to such searches? Why are Muslims from Malaysia, Indonesia, Dubai not subjected to such searches.
I believe it is incorrect to say that US airport security is targeting based on ethnicity and religion based on the above questions.
So then, what other reason there could be? It has to be based on the track record of particular region, nation or group.
You cant begin to understand the suffering and humiliation of others until you go through the same ordeal yourself, but on the other hand making others suffer just because they did the same to you is not the right way to go about things. There is nothing more we can do other than appeal against this ill treatment.
Let’s be honest. Whether we like it or not, most terror plots focused on the United States are planned by religious extremists. Now the extra screening for Pakistanis may be discriminatory, but it is grounded in legitimate security concerns.
Pakistanis can subject Americans to same security measures to make themselves happy. However its Pakistan that needs American help, not the other way around.
If we were to be searched at US airports, than everyone coming into from US should also be treated the same.
“One analyst believes that Pakistan must reciprocate with making cavity searches and separate queues for flights originating from the US, but also argues that due to the donor-recipient relationship, Pakistan cannot take any drastic steps ”
Apty said and mildly put.
Raza, Lucknow