ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: Three Pakistani pilots sent to the United States for aircraft simulator course last week, have refused to undergo the training there because of their detention by the FBI to interrogate them as to the purpose of their visit.

Foreign Office spokesman, Mr Riaz M. Khan, while confirming the incident said PIA has chosen the pilots for training in the United States, but they were detained by the FBI briefly for interrogation.

Apparently offended by the high-handed treatment, all the three pilots informed PIA that they would not like to stay in the US and instead, prefer to be sent to some European country for the same course. It was not known what was their employers’ response.—HA