ISLAMABAD, July 21: Pakistan protested on Thursday against the arrest of Kashmiri-American Council (KAC) director Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai in the US, saying the move could not deprive the Kashmir cause of its legitimacy.

“A demarche was made to the US embassy in Islamabad today to register our concerns,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.

Jonathan Pratt, Political Counsellor at the US Embassy, received the demarche from Director General (Americas) Dr Sohail Khan.

The government sees Dr Fai’s detention as a continuation of a slander campaign against Pakistan and an attempt to malign the Kashmir cause.

Although he had been facing questioning about the KAC’s relationship with Pakistan government since 2007, many believe that there was more to the episode because of its timing as the arrest came at a time when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in India. Besides, it followed an ongoing row between Washington and Islamabad over the arrest of CIA’s local agents in Pakistan who may have facilitated the May 2 raid in Abbottabad in which Osama bin Laden was killed.

The incident attracted special attention in Islamabad because it came ahead of the July 27 meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India and was perceived to be an indication of the changing nuances of the US policy on the dispute.

Dr Fai, a US citizen, was arrested on Tuesday by the US Department of Justice for acting on behalf of the Pakistan government, without registering as a foreign agent, for influencing US government’s position on Kashmir.

Co-accused Zaheer Ahmed couldn’t be arrested for being out of the US. He is said to be in Pakistan.

Although the KAC claims to be a non-profit organisation working for improving understanding in the US about the struggle of Kashmiris for self-determination, the US government says it is actually run by ISI, Pakistani spy agency. Washington alleges that the ISI funnelled four million dollars through the group for lobbying with Congressional leaders and key government functionaries.

“Foreign governments who try to influence the United States by using unregistered agents threaten our national security,” the FBI said.

The demarche from the Foreign Office praised the KAC and Dr Fai’s work for Kashmiris’ struggle and said the Kashmir dispute was on the UN agenda and several Security Council resolutions reaffirmed the right of Kashmiris to self-determination.

“Upholding fundamental rights of Kashmiris is the fundamental responsibility of the international community and all conscientious people who value human rights and values,” the Islamabad statement said in what could be interpreted as a response to the allegation of threatening America’s national security.