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Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 26/02/2007

Report of Press Briefing on 26 February 2007

No statement was made in the beginning and the Press Conference opened with Question/Answer Session.

Question/Answer Session

Asked whether Pakistan would succumb to US pressure and take military action in the tribal areas on the US dictation, the Spokesperson said:

We do not accept dictation from any one. We have a comprehensive strategy in the tribal areas which includes military action, where necessary, and political and economic aspects. We have a development strategy there, and we are working on it.

Asked to confirm whether the US Vice President Dick Cheney had come to deliver a warning to Pakistan as claimed by the New York Times and why his paid a surprise visit, the Spokesperson said:

This was not a surprise visit though it was not announced. Vice President Dick Cheney is visiting Afghanistan and stopped over in Pakistan for a meeting with the President. In the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, Afghanistan and counter-terrorism cooperation. As for the media reports, we do not comment on speculative media reports.

Asked whether India was willing to share with Pakistan any information on the Samjhota train tragedy, the Spokesperson said:

We assume that India is conducting investigations. We have been assured by the Indian Prime Minister first in his telephone call to our Prime Minister and subsequently when our Foreign Minister met him in New Delhi that he was determined to get to the bottom of this terrorist attack and that India would share the results of the investigations with Pakistan .

Asked about the basis of the reports that the Taliban were going to launch a spring offensive and did Pakistan share this view, the Spokesperson said:

We have not said that the Taliban are going to launch a spring offensive. This is something that NATO and the US are talking about. They have informed us about it. They have expressed concerns that the Taliban were regrouping and would launch a renewed offensive after the snow melts. The Taliban themselves have been claiming that they would launch such an attack.

Asked about the criteria for selecting the core group of countries within the OIC that met in Islamabad on Sunday 25 February and what was meant by ‘like-minded', the Spokesperson said:

The Foreign Ministers of the Seven Muslim countries and Secretary General OIC met in Islamabad yesterday. There was a media interaction also. The President undertook visits to a number of countries. The purpose of this initiative is not to exclude any country. These 7 countries represent a cohesive group with convergence on many issues. None of the countries has its territory under occupation or is in a conflict situation. As such, they have the facility to engage all. The purpose is to help resolve the problems, add to the momentum of peace efforts and to de-escalate and reduce tensions. It can also work for harmony and unity in the Muslim world. The purpose is not to exclude any one. There have been extensive consultations; the President of Pakistan has visited the countries that are part of this initiative and also other countries. He has visited Iran . Earlier, he spoke to the Iranian President. Our Foreign Minister has subsequently spoken to the Iranian and Syrian Foreign Ministers. Our Prime Minister spoke to the Lebanese Prime Minister; our Foreign Minister held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iraq in Riyadh . This is an ongoing process. The President also spoke to President Mehmud Abbas. So we are consulting everyone. The purpose is to help the process; the purpose is to provide a momentum to the peace efforts. In this context, they want to play a supportive and helpful role. It is not a bloc against anyone; it is not a bloc at the behest of anyone. There should be absolutely no misunderstanding. Pakistan would not work on anyone's behest against any other country.

Asked about Pakistan 's expectations from the forthcoming India-Pakistan anti-terrorism mechanism meeting, the Spokesperson said:

This would be the first meeting of this mechanism. It is very important that we approach it with a constructive mindset. When the anti-terrorism mechanism meets next week, it is our expectation that the Indian side would share with us whatever progress they have made in the Samjotha Express terrorist attack investigations.

Asked, with reference to her response to the previous question, what aspects of terrorism would come under the purview of the mechanism, the Spokesperson said:

It is the anti-terrorism mechanism. All aspects would be discussed.

Asked whether Pakistan would allow Indian investigators to meet the survivors of the train terrorist incident, the Spokesperson said:

There are two or three issues here. First, our people - the injured Pakistanis had already been questioned by the Indian investigators. Some of them had been very helpful in the sketches that had been drawn. Secondly, we have to be mindful of the trauma and grief the survivors have suffered. Some of them have already complained that they were subjected to grueling and incessant interrogations. If however, there is something very specific on which the Indians require the assistance of injured Pakistanis, they should contact us. We would look into it.

Asked whether Pakistan would accept conditionalities with the US economic and military assistance as proposed in the draft legislation, the Spokesperson said:

We do not agree to such conditionalities. For your information, at the moment, there are three versions of the bill and nothing has been finalized.

Asked about the main focus of the US Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

AS I have already said there were discussions on bilateral relations, Afghanistan and counter-terrorism cooperation. I do not have any more details.

Asked whether the Makkah Conference would be convened under the auspices of the OIC, the spokesperson said:

This has been clarified a number of times. There are at least five or six Press Releases on this question that are posted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website. These clearly explain the purpose and nature of this meeting. This is the conference of seven Muslim countries and Saudi Arabia is hosting it.

Asked whether the issue of Iran came up for discussion during Cheney-Musharraf meeting, the Spokesperson said:

No, this was not discussed.