Someone alert the information minister: there is an invention known as the internet which can be a handy reference guide of past statements made by politicians.

Following US Defence Secretary Robert Gates’ admission that Blackwater operatives were in Pakistan, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira was asked to comment. Here’s what he said:

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Friday asked the media “when has the government denied the presence of the Blackwater security firm in the country”

If Kaira had done a simple Google search he would have found the following:

Rehman Malik on January 2, 2010:

“No such agency named Blackwater is working in Pakistan”

Rehman Malik, again, on November 13, 2009:

“I assure you there is no Blackwater in Pakistan”

Guess who on November 21, 2009:

In his statement to the senate standing committee on interior, Malik said Blackwater was not operating in Pakistan and if proven wrong he would tender his resignation.

The Foreign Office on September 18, 2009:

Pakistan on Thursday said there is no presence of Blackwater in Pakistan. Addressing a weekly briefing here, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit while quoting the statement of the Interior Ministry said there is no presence of Blackwater in Pakistan

The Foreign Office wasn’t the only government body spouting off on Blackwater that day:

State Minister for Interior Tasnim Ahmad has categorically denied the presence of Blackwater, American private security agency, in Pakistan.

Might Qaira want to reconsider his statement?