Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 20/08/2007

Record of Press Briefing on 20 August, 2007

There was no opening statement.

Question/Answer Session

Asked, for information about the number of Indian prisoners released by Pakistan and vice versa as agreed by the two countries on the eve of Independence and also for comments regarding the great discrepancy between the larger numbers released by Pakistan as compared to India , the Spokesperson said:

There have been a number of questions about this issue in the last one week and the media has also been reporting on this. I have spoken to individual channels and print media representatives; I would like to give you a comprehensive picture about this as we do from time to time. Let me first tell you that so far we have released 2823 Indian prisoners, the number includes 264 civilian prisoners and 2559 fishermen. India has released total of 834 Pakistani prisoners out of which 386 are civilian prisoners and 448 are fishermen. This data pertains to the period since 2003.

I will also give you a run down of what has happened recently. As we have said earlier also this has been an issue at which we look from a humanitarian angle and we have repeatedly emphasized that we should simplify the procedure. For e.g. whenever someone is arrested we should intimate each other so that the formalities such as consular access, determination of national status etc are completed by the time the prisoner is ready to be released, so that no extra time is taken up in the formalities and if say the term of imprisonment is one year, it does not end up becoming a three year sentence.

During the recent Interior Secretary level talks on Terrorism and Drugs Trafficking under the fourth round of the Composite Dialogue held in Delhi on July 3-4, 2007, the two sides had agreed to release all civilian prisoners who had been granted consular access, whose national status had been verified and who had completed their prison sentences by august 14-15, 2007. The two sides had also agreed to release, by the same dates, the remaining fishermen in each others custody on completion of the process. They had further decided to take immediate steps to release the fishing boats, excluding trawlers, in each others custody.

Pakistan released and repatriated 100 Indian fishermen and 34 civilian prisoners through the Wagah-Attari border on August 13, 2007 . This date was specifically chosen to enable these Indian nationals to reach home in time to celebrate their Independence Day with their families.

India , on the other hand announced that 24 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 48 fishermen would be released. Subsequently, only 22 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 48 fishermen were released on August 14, 2007 . The Indian side had informed that the remaining two Pakistani civilian prisoners would be released subsequently as they were in remote jails and could not be brought to the border in time. These Pakistanis were repatriated on August 14, 2007 and were not able to reach their homes to celebrate the Independence Day with their families as we had done for the Indians.

We also expected India to release more than 150 Pakistani civilian prisoners as their national status had been confirmed and our High Commission in Delhi issued their travel documents.

Our High Commission in Delhi has regularly been requesting the MEA to specify the number of Pakistani civilian prisoners in Indian jails, charges against them and details of those who have completed their sentence. Unfortunately we have not received any response to our repeated requests. That is why it is not possible for us to determine how many Pakistanis are actually in Indian prisons but we are sure about 150 because their formalities had been completed and our High Commission in Delhi had issued travel documents for them.

Asked, for information on the freeing of 12 Iranian hostages by Pakistani authorities who had been brought into Pakistan by their kidnappers, and also if the Pakistan Government had any concerns regarding border security at Pakistan-Iran border, and what its policy was concerning militants engaged in activities as there were reports that the US Government had provided funds to destabilize Iran which could harm Pakistan-Iran friendship, the Spokesperson said:

First, I can confirm that the Iranian Government approached our embassy in Tehran with the request for our assistance in tracing the individuals who were kidnapped. Our authorities are extending full cooperation. We do not know if they crossed over into Pakistan but we have several layers of mechanisms in place to work with the Iranian Government against miscreants, drug traffickers and criminals who may move across this border. As regards efforts by anyone to destabilize Iran , we have made it clear in the past as well, and I will repeat that Pakistan is not and Pakistan will not be a party to any such efforts.

Asked, with reference to the recent Chinese killings in Pakistan , if the Chinese Government had issued any travel advice to its nationals against traveling to Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

No, no such travel advice had been issued by China , but we are as much concerned about safety and security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan as China would be. Our law enforcement authorities are making every possible effort to ensure their safety in Pakistan as we would provide security to and try to ensure safety of every foreign national in Pakistan . China is a friend and the Chinese nationals in Pakistan are making a significant contribution to our economic development and there is no reason why anyone should threaten them or their lives should be in danger in Pakistan .

When her attention was drawn to the debate in India over nuclear tests after the Indo-US nuclear deal and her views were sought as to how this was viewed by Pakistan with reference to her prior comments about the Indo-US nuclear deal having a negative impact on the security and safety of the whole region, and also asked for comments on Australian refusal to sell Uranium to Pakistan even though it was willing to sell it to India, the Spokesperson said:

We are following closely the controversy reflected in the statements emanating from Washington and Delhi about India 's right to conduct nuclear test within the context of the US-India nuclear deal. We take seriously the assertions by Indian leadership about the possibility of renewed nuclear testing. This should be a source of concern not just for Pakistan but also for the international community especially when Indian weapons capability would be augmented by the agreement as well as by India 's access to technology and fissile material.

On its part, Pakistan continues to adhere to its unilateral moratorium on testing. We had also proposed to India a bilateral nuclear test ban agreement. Resumption of nuclear tests by India would create a serious situation, obliging Pakistan to review its position and to take appropriate action consistent with its supreme national interest.

As regards, the comments we have already issued a statement regarding the unwarranted and uncalled for statement. We have already made a statement about that. Therefore, I do not need to go into that.

Like the US-India agreement, decision by Australia to sell uranium to India is a matter to which warrants close attention. Any development that can impinge on the strategic balance in South Asia is a matter of vital concern to us. Pakistan does not want an arms race in South Asia but at the same time, we are determined to maintain a credible minimum deterrence in the interest of strategic balance which is indispensable for peace in the region.

I would like to repeat what we have been emphasizing consistently that Pakistan also has energy needs and its future energy procurement plans include development of civil nuclear power plants. We want to develop civil nuclear power generation under international safeguards. We hope and expect that the NSG member countries would be sensitive to our needs.

Pakistan is fully committed to nuclear non-proliferation. For the effectiveness of global nuclear non-proliferation regime, Pakistan must be viewed as a partner.

Asked, if as stated that Pakistan would like to have a deal with US on the patterns of the Indo US nuclear deal, did that also mean that Pakistan would like a similar deal with Australia , the Spokesperson said:

We are not talking about any specific country. We are saying that NSG should adopt criteria based approach and as expanding and growing economy we have our energy requirements. We also want to build and develop civil nuclear power plants to meet our energy requirements.

Asked, with reference to various US Presidential candidates comments regarding direct strikes inside Pakistan , how long Pakistan would continue to tolerate those threats and how long it would continue to kill its own nationals at the behest of the US , the Spokesperson said:

When you say we had our people killed at the US behest, you are insulting yourself and your own country. We are not doing anything for anyone else's sake. As regards the statements, we do not want to get dragged into the election debates in the US . These are statements by individuals. We have to look at what the US officials have to say. There have been some statements and we have responded to them.

Asked, for comments regarding Pakistan-China civil nuclear agreement, the Spokesperson said:

We have a long standing cooperation with China . This question has been asked umpteen times and I have already responded to it.

Asked for information regarding the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue, its agenda and when it would start as well as the purpose of Mr. Negroponte's visit, the Spokesperson said:

The response to your second question is in your first question. Mr. Negroponte is coming here for the second round of the Strategic Dialogue. Strategic Dialogue entails review of the full range of bilateral relations and our bilateral cooperation in a number of areas e.g. education, science and technology, Reconstruction Opportunity Zones, bilateral trade, energy and political relationship. As Mr. Boucher had already mentioned he will be here around the 11-12 September, 2007.

Asked, for comments regarding the US role in the much talked about deal between President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto and the recent comments of Chaudhry Nisar, the Spokesperson said:

I have no information and I have no comments.

Asked with reference to her earlier response that if India conducted a nuclear test, Pakistan would have to revise and review its own policy, if Pakistan had discussed this issue with the global community, the Spokesperson said:

We have made our position known.

Asked if Australia provided Uranium to India , what would be the situation of Dr Abdul Qadeer, the Spokesperson said:

What is the link?