Former envoy Haqqani's portrait removed from Pak embassy in US

Former ambassador Husain Haqqani's portrait has been removed from the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.

Portraits of all the envoys who have served in Washington are on display in the Embassy but the picture of Haqqani was removed recently, The News reported.

He served as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States from 2008 to 2011.

Haqqani had resigned in 2011 due to the memogate controversy.

He was accused of being insufficiently protective of Pakistan's interests.

Condemning the atrocities of Pakistan on the people of Balochistan, Haqqani earlier this month said that instead of using force on the indigenous group, Islamabad should recognise their sentiments and aspirations.

"Instead of using force against the Balochis, it would be best to recognize the sentiments and aspirations of the Baloch people," he said.

"The transformation of erstwhile East Pakistan into Bangladesh should be a lesson in the limits of military power in building a nation or keeping a country together," he added.

Haqqani had also recently questioned Islamabad's double standard on terrorism, saying that the latter fights some of the terror groups while encouraging some others.

"Some groups have been attacked by the Pakistani military and they have been dealt with but others have been encouraged, including Hafeez Saeed 's LeT," Haqqani told ANI.