US private security contractor Blackwater, formerly known as Xe Security, was neither operating in Pakistan nor its trained security officers were part of prime minister’s safety escort, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Wednesday.

“I said this earlier and categorically say once again that there is no existence of Blackwater in the country,” said the minister. He was replying to a question when asked to comment over media reports about inclusion of Xe-trained officers in the official security escort of the prime minister.

Meanwhile, the minister said the US official security experts had been imparting training to Pakistani civil law enforcementagencies; especially police officers, under a pact signed during Pervez Musharraf era, which was aimed at increasing their professional skills and standard to combat terrorism.

Responding to another query, Malik welcomed the recent Indian announcement for consideration of Pakistani cricketers for second edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), adding that his ministry would certainly allow the players to fly to India; in case they formally receive offer and agree to participate in the IPL. “We welcome the Indian decision, which was made due to strong protest of our nation. India should show same flexibility for resolution of Kashmir as well as water disputes, and come at the dialogue table,” he maintained.

Regarding Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s speech in the National Assembly, Malik said the PM has clearly given the message of national unity and called for working together to achieve combined targets of national development.