Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 16/07/2007

Record of Press Briefing on 16 July 2007

Opening Statement

The Foreign Secretaries of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Dr. Palitha Kohona will visit Pakistan from 17-19 July 2007 for the second session of Pakistan Sri Lanka Bilateral Consultation to be held in Islamabad on 18 July 2007. The Foreign Secretaries lead their respective delegations. During the consultations, both sides will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations besides exchanging views on important regional and international issues.

Question/Answer Session

Asked, if the action against the Red Masjid had been taken to appease the US , the Spokesperson said:

I think this suggestion is so ridiculous and absurd that it does not deserve a response.

Asked, for comments with reference to the remarks of the Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh that LoC in Kashmir would become the line of peace, the Spokesperson said:

Pakistan has always maintained from the beginning that the dialogue process should focus on making progress on issues that have caused tension and conflicts between the two countries The Indian Prime Minister statement acknowledges that both countries are seriously discussing the Kashmir dispute. The President has already outlined ideas and emphasized that the final settlement should be acceptable to Pakistan , India and more importantly to the people of Kashmir .

Pakistan has made many proposals for greater interaction among Kashmiris. Any out of the box solution of the Kashmir dispute that reflects the aspirations of the Kashmiri people would make the Loc irrelevant. If that happens not just the Loc but the entire Kashmir will become an abode of peace.

Asked whether the US was involved in the deployment of troops in Swat in view of the recent interview given by the US National Security adviser Stephen Hadley to ABC News in which he said that the US would help Pakistan in troop deployment in those areas, the Spokesperson said:

I do not recall seeing any such statement. I think he may have said something in the context of the US being supportive of any action that Pakistan may choose to take. He also said that all such actions came under the sovereignty of Pakistan . I do not see how this can be rephrased to mean they are helping us in deployment of troops in any part of Pakistan .

Asked, how Pakistan viewed the recent statements given by high officials in the US that Al Qaeda operating in Iraq takes guidance from Pakistan in view of the fact that in the recent past Pakistan had indicated that it would withdraw from the war against terror if it was not trusted, the Spokesperson said:

You are referring to a statement that was attributed to the President and also was clarified at that time. It was a misrepresentation of what the President had said. We have no evidence of Al Qaeda operations in Iraq being guided from Pakistan and no one can suggest such an absurd connection.

Asked, for the confirmation of the dates of the grand peace jirga and also if scrapping of the peace deal in North Waziristan would have any bearing on its progress, the Spokesperson said:

You know the Jirga Commissions of Pakistan and Afghanistan meet regularly to make preparations for the Jirga and that process is continuing. As regards the deal with the tribal elders in North Waziristan , the Government has not scrapped that deal. The Government remains engaged in dialogue with the tribal elders. As regards the current status of that dialogue, perhaps the Governor of NWFP would be in a better position to give details. We believe in a comprehensive strategy to address the problems in the tribal areas. This strategy includes political and economic measures and where necessary military action. This has been the strategy of Pakistan and it remains in tact.

Asked, if Pakistan had formally sought compensation from NATO for the death of civilians in NATO fire, the Spokesperson said:

You may like to ask DG ISPR.

Asked, if the Government of Pakistan had been conveyed any concerns by foreign diplomats their security, the Spokesperson said:

As we have repeatedly said security of diplomatic missions in Pakistan is the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan and we are doing it.

Asked, that in response to a prior question she had said that the Government still remains in dialogue with the tribal elders in North Waziristan , if this was the final, present outcome, the Spokesperson said:

I said the Government has not scuttled any deal and negotiations with the tribal elders are continuing. I was speaking in the present tense.

Asked, for comments regarding the European Parliament which in its recent resolution had asked the President not to impose emergency and to hold fair, free elections and to resign one of his posts, the Spokesperson said:

Our position on statements on those matters which are essentially internal matters of Pakistan is very clear. As regards this resolution, it is one of the many non binding resolutions that the European Parliament adopts from time to time. Such resolutions do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union. There are many factual inaccuracies and distortions in the resolution. For instance, the resolution laments the requirement of graduation for members of Parliament and labels it as gender discrimination. How on earth this requirement discriminates against women, we do not understand. It is facetious to accuse Pakistan of gender discrimination because of this requirement. The reference to the Lal Masjid also represents a confused and conflicted approach of the European Parliament towards fighting extremism.

Asked, if the news that china had refused to receive the bodies of its nationals killed recently in Peshawar were true, the Spokesperson said:

No, this is not true. They were waiting for the families of the deceased to arrive here. I understand they arrived day before yesterday.

Asked, if the Chinese Government had demanded compensation for the killed nationals, the Spokesperson said:

No, I am not aware of any such demand.

Asked, if the identities and nationalities of the foreigners recovered from the Red Masjid had been established, the Spokesperson said:

No, the information I have is that some bodies have been found which it is suspected are of foreign militants but so far we have no confirmation about their origin. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior maybe able to tell you if they have been identified.