New Delhi: A Pakistani journalist has implied the role of Indian agencies in the assassination attempt on former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
In a press briefing by the Pentagon’s Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Tuesday, Jahanzaib Ali, the Washington Correspondent for ARY News, sparked controversy by asking him about a foreign country’s involvement in the attack against Trump. Without naming India, Ali pointed out the recent allegations of foreign involvement in assassination attempts of citizens of the US and Canada.
India has been at the centre of controversy after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelled allegations against the country in the Canadian parliament over the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Similar controversy steamed over an alleged assassination plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun—an American citizen—in New York.
“But do you think that any foreign country involved in this kind of assassination attempts to create disturbance in this country? …Recently we have seen a foreign government and foreign intelligence agencies involved in the assassination attempt on a US citizen here in New York and also in Canada. So, do you think that any foreign country can perform this?,” asked Ali.
Ryder directed Ali to the FBI and the Secret Service for any questions relating to an investigation into Trump’s attempted assassination. Ryder in this briefing, also expressed regret on the ‘saddening incident’ where a terror attack took the lives of eight Pakistani soldiers and injured dozens. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those soldiers that were lost,” Ryder said.
The Pakistani journalist’s questions have been ridiculed online, with some users on the internet calling the Pentagon press briefing “a standup comedy show”, and others calling Ali out on his purposeful instinct “to speak of India in every press conference.”
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The India question
Washington-based Ali covers international politics and foreign policy for ARY News. Ali is infamous for dragging India in in many of his questions at the US State Department and Pentagon press briefings.
He has asked the US State about their stance on India’s non-renewal of ABC’s Avani Dias visa forcing the Australian journalist to leave India abruptly. Dias claimed that her election accreditation was put on hold by a ministry directive as her reporting had crossed a line and an episode of ABC’s Foreign Correspondent series was blocked. Furthermore, he asked questions to US’ representatives on the India-Pakistan dialogue, and the death of Nijjar.
In May this year, ARY News claimed that Ali was at the ‘receiving end of threats’ when he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech and “alleged violence” in India under Modi’s government.
Munir Akram, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, condemned “individuals reportedly affiliated with Indian agencies” who issued threats to Ali.