US citizen arrested at Karachi airport turns out to be FBI agent
- May 7, 2014, 12:59 pm
- Breaking News
- 139 Views
KARACHI, May 7 (Online): The US national, who was earlier arrested at Karachi airport for carrying bullets has turned out to be an FBI agent.
According to US media, the American is an agent for US investigating agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The CNN reported that the agent was visiting Pakistan as part of an assignment to provide training to local police.
The agent was visiting Pakistan as part of an assignment to provide training to local police, the official said.
A State Department official said diplomats are working with Pakistani authorities to gain the release of the agent.
The agent appeared in court Tuesday to face anti-terrorism charges, which restrict unauthorized weapons or ammunition on commercial flights.
Employees for the FBI and other U.S. agencies are allowed to carry weapons in Pakistan when authorized.
In this case, the agent appeared to forget he had a small number of bullets in his possession, the U.S. law enforcement official said. Local media reported he had 15 bullets.
US officials told Washington Post the agent was in Pakistan as part of a multi-agency effort to help the country investigate corruption.
The operative's father told the newspaper his son was scheduled to be in the South Asian nation for about three months for 'office-type work' with 'a non-FBI-type' entity.
Meghan Gregonis, a spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Islamabad, said US officials are working to resolve the matter.
A Pakistani Foreign Ministry told Washington Post that local officials are trying to gather more information about the agent’s job in Pakistan.
NBC News reported that the American agent did not resist arrest in Karachi and was handed over to airport police for further investigation.
'We are aware of the reports, and we are coordinating closely with Pakistani authorities on the matter,' Gregonis said.
US officials hope this incident is more easily resolved than the 2011 case of a CIA contractor who was arrested and charged with killing two men. Raymond Davis said that he believed they were trying to rob him.
The case inflamed local anti-American sentiment and soured relations until the United States agreed to compensate the families of the two men. Davis was then freed.
Airport security forces took rapid action Tuesday after recovery of illegal material including 15 bullets of 9mm pistol and a magazine from Joel Cox possession and detained him on the spot.
