WASHINGTON: The US embassies in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Thailand are warning of the potential for anti-American protests and violence after Tuesday's release of a Senate report outlining harsh interrogation techniques used by the CIA on terror suspects.

In identical notices to Americans in the three countries, the embassies said “the release of declassified versions of the executive summary, findings, and conclusions of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's study on the CIA's rendition, detention and interrogation program could prompt anti-US protests and violence against US interests, including private US citizens.”

The US Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand, also issued the warning.

Afghanistan and Thailand were host to two of the secret facilities where prisoners were interrogated.

The notices urged Americans to be alert to their surrounding and take appropriate safety precautions, including avoiding demonstrations or confrontational situations.

The CIA's interrogation of Al Qaeda suspects was far more brutal than acknowledged and did not produce useful intelligence, a damning and long-delayed US Senate report said on Tuesday.

The summary is the most extensive detailing of the CIA's brutal interrogation of Al Qaeda suspects yet, although Obama admitted in August that: “We tortured some folks."

Also read: US Senate report assails CIA’s torture techniques

Current CIA director John Brennan defended his agency's adoption of tough tactics under the president George W. Bush in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attacks on US cities.

He insisted that, while mistakes were made, brutal techniques like waterboarding “did produce intelligence that helped thwart attack plans, capture terrorists and save lives."


CIA torture: US Senate Summary

CIA torture: Full report

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...