ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: The US Charge d'affaires was on Monday summoned to the Foreign Office for conveying the government's abhorrence at the newfound American concern for Balochistan, which was described as unhelpful for repairing the already strained bilateral relationship.

“The US charge d'affaires, Mr Richard Hoagland, was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. He was officially conveyed the government's serious concern with regard to the hearing held by the US Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations in relation to Balochistan,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Mr Hoagland's meeting with Additional Secretary (Americas) Mr Alamgir Babar took place as the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the house sub-committee's hearing.

Interestingly, Mr Hoagland's summoning took place four days after FO said that its concerns had been conveyed to US authorities and that the State Department understood its position on Balochistan.

In a reiteration of Pakistani position on the House sub-committee's move, Mr Hoagland was told that the hearing was unacceptable as it was tantamount to interference in the internal affairs of the country.

The fury over US interest in Balochistan insurgency escalated further after Ambassador Cameron Munter's media interviews, a day earlier, in which he said that human rights violations in Balochistan were a major issue.

Mr Hoagland, during his meeting at the FO, was also conveyed displeasure over Ambassador Munter's statements on the situation in Balochistan.

“Mr Munter's comments and congressional hearing do not help build trust and may become irritants in the ties,” the senior American diplomat was told, according to a source.

Mr Hoagland, according to the statement, assured Mr Babar that the US administration had neither extended any support to the Congressional initiative nor did it subscribe to views expressed during the hearing.