Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 27/08/2007

Record of Press Briefing on 27 August, 2007

Opening Statement

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sponsored the construction of a Girls High School in Chinari, Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The school is located on the banks of River Jhelum in the town of Chinari , about 8 kilometres from the Line of Control. The school has been built near the site of the previous school which was destroyed in the earthquake on 8 October 2005. More than 200 school children of Chinari lost their lives in the earthquake.

The new Girls High School in Chinari has been constructed through the voluntary donations by the officers and staff in Pakistan 's diplomatic missions abroad and at the Foreign Office.

The work on the school project started in September 2006. A committee constituted by the Foreign Secretary headed by Additional Secretary Shahid Kamal and comprising Director General (Headquarters& Finance), Director (Foreign Secretary's Office) and Director (Finance) monitored the work on the school project.

Question/Answer Session

Asked, as to how Pakistan viewed London which has always been the abode of dissident politicians, and Pakistan has been critical of others but what distinction Pakistan feels London enjoys in this regards, the Spokesperson said:

I think it is a question that essentially those who are there can answer. Unless someone is wanted in a criminal case, people are free to travel and they can reside wherever they want.

Asked, with reference to the Japanese Defense Minister who was recently in Pakistan and who commented that she would like to see Pakistan sign the NPT, and also as to how Pakistan viewed the comments of the Japanese Prime Minister who referred during his visit to India to the “arch of freedom” which was believed by some to be an attempt to contain China, the Spokesperson said:

I would not like to comment on the statements of a leader in a third country, what its interpretation maybe or what their foreign policy objectives maybe. As regards the Japanese defense minister's reported statement that Japan would like to see Pakistan sign the NPT, our position on NPT is clear. After the 1973 nuclear test by India , we had offered to sign NPT along with India . Our initiative at that time did not receive the kind of response we would have liked to see. Pakistan had to restore the disturbed strategic balance. Again after the 1998 nuclear tests by India , we had test to demonstrate our nuclear capability. Today nuclear deterrence is an indispensable part of our security. Therefore, the statement by the Japanese Defense Minister can only be regarded as Japanese desire in the context of their view of global non-proliferation regime.

Asked, if Pakistan was in anyway facilitating talks between US led coalition forces and Taliban in Afghanistan and also if Islamabad still considered the
Durand Line an issue between Afghanistan and Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

No, we are not aware of any negotiations between the US and Taliban and we are not involved. As regards your second question, the Durand Line is not an issue.

Asked, for comments regarding attempts by some Indian authorities to put the blame of the Hyderabad blasts on Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

I have not seen any Indian official statement. There were some statements attributed to some Chief Minister. These are terrorist acts and we condemn terrorist acts whoever commits or sponsors them. We are ourselves victims of terrorism and are committed to fighting terrorism in our own national interest. I do not want to comment on conjectures. It is always better to investigate incidents of terrorism then to start speculating.

Asked, for information about the Anti Terrorism Mechanism which was supposed to meet on a quarterly basis but had not met after its first meeting in March, and also asked for comments regarding Indian Minister of Commerce who had said that the Indian Government was waiting for a response from Pakistan regarding the proposals made about trade between the two countries across the Loc, the Spokesperson said:

On the cross Loc trade, I think there have been some discussions and we believe that we are moving in the direction of opening the Loc for trade for Kashmiris and also the truck service. I am not up to date as to what happened to the delegation of businessmen who were supposed to meet and decide on the items they were going to trade in. let me check and get back to you on this.

As regards your other question regarding the Anti Terror Mechanism, no the meeting has not been scheduled yet. We are expecting the officer who will take over as Additional Secretary UN to arrive shortly. Once he is there then perhaps the two additional secretaries can get in touch and decide the dates.

Asked, if the Government of Pakistan was aware of any cross border action taken by the NATO forces inside Pakistan as reported in the newspapers, the Spokesperson said:

DG ISPR, I understand, has already made a statement on that. As regards operation by our forces in our areas or operations by NATO forces on the other side of the border, all operational details are something that ISPR can give you and DG ISPR has already made a statement on that.

Asked, if the Siachen issue can be resolved or if the Indian were willing to resolve it as experts had expressed concerns about the environmental problems arising from it, the Spokesperson said:

As you know, we would like to see an early solution to this issue. Apart from the fact that this has been a long standing dispute between the two countries, as we have been saying repeatedly, this is now causing environmental concerns. It is in our mutual interest to resolve this as soon as possible. We believe we have made some proposals which can lead to its solution. What it requires now is political will.

Asked, if India was showing interest in resolving the Siachen issue, the Spokesperson said:

If they are engaged with us and are discussing this issue we presume they are interested.

Asked, for comments about the MMA Parliamentary leader Liaqat Baloch's statement that the President had bought a house in Istanbul and was planning to move there, the Spokesperson said:

What do you want me to say? Is it the sort of question you should ask at the Foreign Office briefing? The Government has already responded to that. Please do not bring domestic political issues to the Foreign Office briefing.

Asked, if the Government was concerned that everyone was asking Pakistan exclusively to sign the NPT, the Spokesperson said:

No, that is not true and why should we be concerned. As I said we have a very clear position on the NPT. As you may recall, there have been statements giving another point of view including from the Director General of the IAEA that the non proliferation regime needs to accommodate the ground realities. There are countries which are de facto nuclear weapon states and the bottom line is he has recommended that these nuclear weapons states are a reality. There is a realization that this is something which cannot be undone, so it is better for the credibility of the non proliferation regime that there be some kind of accommodation.

Asked, with reference to the abduction of the Iranian citizens why Pakistan had refused to hand over the terrorists, the Spokesperson said:

Which terrorists? We do not know if they were terrorists or just criminals who could have done this for ransom as they were arrested before they could make any demands. If they are Pakistani citizens; they have to be investigated here. I do not even know if the Iranians have made any demand or requested that they be handed over.

Asked, what Pakistan 's expectations were from the Wullar Barrage talks, and also if the Prime Minister would be representing Pakistan at the UNGA session, the Spokesperson said:

The talks on Wullar Barrage issue are taking place under the 4th round of the Composite Dialogue between Pakistan and India . Whenever we approach any talks or discussions on any of the issue that is to be resolved with India , we do so with a positive and open mind and we would like to see a solution to this issue.

Regarding the UNGA, I know there have been speculations in the media but so far there is no such plan