*WASHINGTON – US State Department spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, on Wednesdayhas responded over Pakistan clamp down against US and other Internationalaid agencies.*
*State department said the United States “regrets” Pakistan’s decision toexpel 18 international ‘aid agencies’ from the country.*
Nauert, in a statement, said many of the 18 groups had worked in thecountry for years, employing thousands of Pakistanis and working to improvethe lives of ordinary people.
A total of 27 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receivedexpulsion orders late last year, but 18 appealed.
According to reports, affected NGOs include World Vision, Pathfinder, PlanInternational, Trocaire and Saferworld. Another group, ActionAid, last weeksaid it was closing offices and laying off staff after the government toldit to halt operations and leave.
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The Interior Ministry on Oct 17 had barred 18 InternationalNon-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) from working in Pakistan and orderedthem to leave the country within 60 days.
The 18 banned NGOs included nine from the United States, three UnitedKingdom and two from Holland, in addition to one each from Ireland,Denmark, Italy and Switzerland.
