Islamabad, July 3 (IANS): Pakistani authorities Thursday said the country has formally lodged a protest with the US over reports of spying in the country.
According to the American media reports, declassified documents have revealed that the US National Security Agency (NSA) had been spying on Pakistan's former ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in 2010.
Under a 2010 certification approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, NSA was permitted to spy on 193 foreign governments as well as foreign factions, political organizations and other entities, Washington Post reported.
"Pakistan has noted with concern recent media reports indicating that it is among the countries subject to surveillance by US government departments," the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement.
"The US Embassy in Islamabad was conveyed today (Thursday) that such an action against Pakistani government departments or other organisations, entities and individuals is not in accord with international law and recognized diplomatic conduct," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.
The foreign ministry said the reference to a political party in Pakistan was surprising, adding that "the US side was further conveyed that surveillance was contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between our two countries".
Pakistan urged the US to stop such activities in the interest of friendly and cooperative ties.
The documents revealed Monday show that the US spy agency was sanctioned to spy on most countries and some international bodies and political parties, including the PPP and the India's Bharatiya Janata Party, which now rules the country.
The PPP condemned the US for spying on the party and asked the government to raise the issue through diplomatic channels with the US.
"The revelation of spying on a major political party of Pakistan is a grave, unwarranted and totally unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country and is condemned," Senator Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson of the PPP, said in a statement.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam Thursday said the issue was being raised with the US, Xinhua reported.
She said at her weekly press briefing that the US espionage in Pakistan is against international laws.