ISLAMABAD: Washington has not held any discussions with Islamabad about a Pakistani man charged in the United States in connection with a failed plot to assassinate American politicians or government officials, a US State Department official said on Thursday.
The US Justice Department confirmed media reports on Aug. 6 it had charged Pakistan’s Asif Merchant, 46, for wanting to recruit people in the US to assassinate US politicians or government officials in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ top commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Merchant, who prosecutors allege spent time in Iran before traveling to the United States from Pakistan, was charged with murder for hire in federal court in New York’s Brooklyn borough. A federal judge ordered him detained on July 17, according to court records.
Pakistan’s foreign office said on Wednesday it was in contact with American officials and was awaiting “further details” about the investigation.
“I don’t have any discussions to speak to today, but we have been clear that the United States will continue to do what is necessary to protect its people, including foreign officials, from threats emanating from Iran,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a weekly press briefing in response to Merchant’s case.
“That continues to be the case and beyond that, it’s really a matter that I should leave to the justice department,” he added.
When pressed to speak further on the matter, Miller said it was an “ongoing legal matter” hence he could not share more details about it.
According to the Justice Department, Merchant arrived in the US from Pakistan in April 2024 after spending time in Iran. There, he contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (CS), it added.
Court documents do not name the alleged targets of the plot. Merchant told a law enforcement informant that there would be “security all around” one target, according to the criminal complaint.
Trump, the Republican candidate in the November 5 presidential election, was wounded in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last month.
The US attorney general said investigators had found no evidence that Merchant had any connection to the shooting, which officials have said was carried out by a lone 20-year-old gunman.
The Justice Department said Merchant told the CS that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them $5,000 in advance for the assassination.
Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024, said the Justice Department. On July 12, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country.
US says no discussions held with Islamabad about Pakistani charged in foiled assassination plot
https://arab.news/2jxma
US says no discussions held with Islamabad about Pakistani charged in foiled assassination plot
- Washington says “will continue to do what is necessary” to protect its people from threats
- Asif Merchant attempted to recruit people in US to assassinate American officials, says Washington
Pakistani, Bangladeshi officials discuss trade, investment and aviation as ties thaw
- Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war
- Ties between Pakistan, Bangladesh have warmed up since last year and both nations have resumed sea trade
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider on Sunday met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, the latter's office said on, with the two figures discussing trade, investment and aviation.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August 2024. Relations remain frosty between Dhaka and New Delhi over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina.
Pakistan has attempted to forge closer ties with Bangladesh in recent months and both South Asian nations last year began sea trade, followed by efforts to expand government-to-government commerce.
"During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and aviation as well as scaling up cultural, educational and medical exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations," Yunus's office said in a statement on X.
In 2023-24 Pakistan exported goods worth $661 million to Bangladesh, while its imports were only $57 million, according to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. In Aug. this year, the Pakistani and Bangladeshi commerce ministries signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Joint Working Group on Trade, aiming to raise their bilateral trade volume to $1 billion in the financial year that began in July.
The Pakistani high commissioner noted that bilateral trade has recorded a 20 percent growth compared to last year, with business communities from both countries actively exploring new investment opportunities, according to the statement.
He highlighted a significant increase in cultural exchanges, adding that Bangladeshi students have shown strong interest in higher education opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in medical sciences, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Haider also said that Dhaka-Karachi direct flights are expected to start in January.
"Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus welcomed the growing interactions between the two countries and emphasized the importance of increased visits as well as cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges among SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member states," the statement read.
"Professor Yunus also underscored the need to further boost Bangladesh–Pakistan trade and expressed hope that during Mr. Haider’s tenure, both countries would explore new avenues for investment and joint venture businesses."
