Pakistani ambassador to U.S. resigns amid memo contoversy

Pakistani ambassador to U.S. resigns amid memo contoversy

2011-11-23 18:30:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani on Tuesday announced his resignation after the release of a controversial memo in which help from the U.S. is requested.

"I have requested [Prime Minister Yousaf Raza] Gilani to accept my resignation as Pakistan Ambassador to US," Haqqani said through his Twitter account, later stating that he has much to contribute to "building a new Pakistan free of bigotry and intolerance."

Controversy began surrounding Haqqani after the Financial Times published an article about a memo addressed to former U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, in which help is requested from the United States amid fears of a military takeover in Pakistan.

The article was published by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz on October 10, explaining that the memo was allegedly conveyed to Mullen by Haqqani and sent from Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari about one week after Taliban leader Osama bin Laden was killed during May's U.S. raid in Pakistan. The memo described a "dangerous devolution of the ground situation in Islamabad where no control appears to be in place."

It added that the Asian country could become a sanctuary to Osama bin Laden's legacy and a potential platform for "far more rapid spread of al-Qaeda's brand of fanaticism and terror." The memo purportedly offered the U.S. an increased role in Pakistan's internal affairs by replacing government officials with those who would comply with U.S. demands if the U.S. helped prevent a possible military takeover of the Pakistani government.

According to media reports, Haqqani had been requested to resign in order for investigations to be carried out transparently. Haqqani, who served as Pakistan's Ambassador to the U.S. since April 2008, has denied the allegations of delivering the memo.

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