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Air Safety: How much information does America have the right to

ask other nations to provide about its citizens who visit America?

 

 

The Nation, Pakistan

Rebuff America on Air Traveler Data

 

"It's chilling to note that their plan involves tracking and monitoring the movement of Pakistanis virtually around the world by storing their information in a special database. It would also be mandatory for travelers to provide details about the financial sources from which they are able to purchase plane tickets. … By going to such extremes, isn't the U.S. signaling that it considers every Pakistani a potential terrorist?"

 

EDITORIAL

 

June 2, 2010

 

Pakistan - The Nation - Original Article (English)

The U.S. demand for Pakistan to provide information on every Pakistani travelling outside the country as a way to contain terrorism is a matter of serious concern and must be strongly rebuffed. There is little doubt that the Americans intend to have Pakistan effectively under their thumb. Indeed, it's chilling to note that their plan involves tracking and monitoring the movement of Pakistanis virtually around the world by storing their information in a special database. It would also be mandatory for travelers to provide details about the financial sources from which they are able to purchase plane tickets. Ostensibly, this is aimed at seeking out networks providing financial means and support to terrorists. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US 

 

Apart from being a most brazen attack on people's privacy, this amounts to an attack on our freedom to move as citizens of a sovereign nation. In addition to the unprecedented level of scrutiny and screening procedures that have become a virtual nightmare for Pakistanis venturing to the U.S., the latest profiling of passengers travelling abroad shows U.S. prejudice against the Pakistani nation. By going to such extremes, isn't the U.S. signaling that it considers every Pakistani a potential terrorist?

 

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The most important thing to note is that far from containing terrorism, such draconian and misplaced policies only fuel it. How does the West expect Muslims to react the brutal massacre aboard Palestine-bound aid ships and the hushed tones of the Obama Administration’s condemnation? These are policies that are provoking more and more Islamic men to strike back at what they see as a symbol of oppression and injustice.

 

Islamabad must strongly resist U.S. pressure on the issue of passenger information. The possibility that the data given to U.S. authorities could be used to malign innocent Pakistani travelers cannot be ruled out.

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US June 3, 8:16pm]

 







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