The dispute appeared to be a sign of the mistrust between
the US and Pakistani militaries, which are nominally allies in the fight
against Taleban and Al-Qaeda but have long had an uneasy relationship.
The nine-member delegation was headed by a two-star navy
rear admiral. Its members were awaiting take off on a United Airlines flight to
Tampa, Fla. - where Central Command is based - when the incident took place
Monday, said army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas.
The delegation was taken off the plane and subjected to
"unwarranted security checks" that resulted in their missing their
flight. They called military authorities in Pakistan who instructed them to
return home, Abbas said.
United Airlines officials were not immediately available
for comment.
Dawn newspaper reported that the delegation was taken of
the plane after a passenger voiced concerns they may have posed a security
threat. It quoted an unnamed security official as saying the officers
"were treated like terrorists" and were not allowed to talk to anyone
for two hours.
Increased checks at US airports in response to the threat
from militants after the Sept. 11 attacks are a sensitive issue for many
Pakistanis, who frequently complain they are being unfairly singled out.
A group of Pakistani lawmakers on a State
Department-sponsored visit to the United States in March returned home early
after complaining of excessive security checks and were hailed as heroes by
sections of the media on their return.
The United States has given the Pakistani army billions
of dollars over the last 10 years to help it better fight militancy, but the
country is very unpopular among many ordinary Pakistanis.
