Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 11/06/2007

Record of Press Briefing on 11 June 2007

There was no opening statement

Question/Answer Session

When asked to comment on the President of Pakistan's statement that Pakistan was ready to withdraw its forces from the LoC, the Spokesperson said:

There was nothing new in that. The President has been talking about certain ideas in the context of resolving the Kashmir dispute. He has talked about identifying the regions, he has talked about demilitarization, he has talked about self governance and joint management but again our position is very clear that there would be no unilateral demilitarization.

Asked with reference to the Prime Minister's visit to Kabul where he ruled out third party mediation in context of Pakistan - Afghanistan relations and was there not a contradiction in Pakistan 's position? On India where it had itself repeatedly advocated third party mediation and has also accepted it in case of Afghanistan via forums like G8, the Spokesperson said:

You have confused a number of issues. As far as G-8 meeting and the Tripartite Commission are concerned, that is in the context of the war against terrorism. These forums are in the context of our cooperation in that war in Afghanistan where this war is being fought. As regards the meetings in Washington with the US President and the meeting in Ankara , these countries merely provided a forum for meetings between the leaders and again this was in the context of the war against terrorism and for establishing peace and security in Afghanistan . It was not in the context of bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan . In bilateral relations, Pakistan and Afghanistan have a number of mechanisms. Our bilateral interaction is very intense. There is no parallel of such close interaction that peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan enjoy. Comparison with India is totally out of place because history and nature of relations with India is different.

Asked whether it was true that the American State Department had declared MQM as a terrorist outfit, the Spokesperson said:

I have no such information.

When asked whether the report that Richard Boucher was coming to Pakistan to mediate between President Pervez Musharraf and People's Party especially when such attempts by the international community had been rebuffed earlier as interference in Pakistan 's internal matters, the Spokesperson said:

I don't know where this story that Richard Boucher is coming for mediation has come from. This is absolutely baseless. Richard Boucher is coming on a regular, periodic visit that the US State Department officials normally undertake. This visit is strictly in that context. So there is absolutely no basis for such reports.

Asked if Pakistan joining the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism meant that Pakistan had been recognized as a nuclear weapon state by the international community and if not what was the purpose, the Spokesperson said:

Pakistan supported the objectives of the Initiative when it was launched. The members of the Initiative have been very keen that Pakistan joins the Initiative. The other members - the P5 are members of the NPT which recognizes them as nuclear weapon states. Pakistan is a nuclear weapon state but we are not member of the NPT. Since we are a nuclear weapon state but not a member of the NPT, we needed to make it clear that this Initiative would not cover our nuclear military facilities in the same manner that it does not cover the nuclear military facilities of P-5. That has been done and this is also very clearly mentioned in the Press Release that has been issued.

When asked for comments about the concern expressed by the US State Department about the curbs on the freedom of press in Pakistan the Spokesperson said:

I am not aware of any such statement by the US State Department.

When asked again for comments about unnamed officials in the State Department having expressed concern about the restriction on media in Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

The Spokesperson of the US State department did not make such a statement and unnamed officials have no such capacity.

Asked for comments on China's demand to Pakistan to hand over Islamic militants hiding in Pakistan to Mr. Kasuri at the meeting of joint working group of Pakistan and China against terrorism, the Spokesperson said:

I think this report first appeared about 10 days ago. There was a question about it at the last briefing as well then and I informed you that this was absolutely baseless. No such demand has been by China . Pakistan and China have very good cooperation in counter terrorism and no such demand has been made.

Asked for information about when Pakistan decided to become a member of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, on what level the whole process had been carried out and about its potential benefits to Pakistan, the Spokesperson said:

There have been consultations since this Initiative was launched. We supported its objectives. Our concern was that we should be given the same exemption that P-5 enjoy and once that concern was addressed, we decided to join. We support this Initiative because we are against proliferation of nuclear proliferation and also feel that nuclear weapons should not fall in the hands of non state actors. Therefore, we have been supportive of the objectives of this initiative all along. Pakistan will formally join at the meeting in Almaty. Our Ambassador will represent Pakistan .

When asked that since only the civilian nuclear facilities would be subject to this Initiative did that imply that the facilities had already been classified as military and civilian, the Spokesperson said:

Well, that is pretty much clear.

Asked about Indian allegations that Pakistan is constructing bunkers beyond the LoC, the Spokesperson said:

Please ask DG ISPR.

Asked about progress on Pakistan 's objection to construction of dams in occupied Kashmir by India , the Spokesperson said:

We have ongoing discussions about the designs of various dams. The Indus Commissioner was recently in India where he had detailed meetings and I understand he spoke to the media on his return and gave the gist of his meetings. I don't know if you are asking generally or with reference to a specific dam violating the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty.

Asked about the nature of assistance offered by Canada to Pakistan for strengthening border security and also when Richard Boucher was arriving, the Spokesperson said:

Mr. Boucher is coming tomorrow. The Canadians have made a number of proposals; some are very specific ideas while others are general principals. These are under consideration by our relevant authorities; Canada also said that they would consult the G-8 as to how they could be helpful to Pakistan in the implementation of these ideas if they are acceptable to us.

Asked for comments about the statement issued recently by the Heads of the Mission of the EU in Islamabad concerning curbs on the freedom of media in Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

I have already commented on that. Government and media representatives are engaging in a dialogue. The Government has said that it supports and has ensured unprecedented freedom for the media; media representatives met the President and also had a meeting with the Prime Minister. They are also holding consultations with the Ministry of Information. This is essentially in our domestic context. If media has certain grievances with the Government, media representatives are raising these with the Government and if the Government has any reservations about the media's responsibilities or responsible reporting the Government is talking to the media representative about this. We don't need an outsider to come and tell us what to do because this is for our people, our media, our Government to discuss, debate and decide. It doesn't concern outsiders and every country has to follow these norms in their own territory. I am sure if we were to comment on the situation of freedoms in these countries we would have a lot to say.

Asked to be briefed about the matters which would be under discussion during Mr. Richard Boucher visit, the Spokesperson said:

As I have said this is a normal, regular, periodic visit in which the two sides will review bilateral relations and various initiatives which are underway after President Bush's visit to Pakistan . They would also consider further steps which can be taken to further broaden and strengthen this relationship.

Asked for comments about any meetings between Mr. Boucher and leaders of any political parties, the Spokesperson said:

As far as meetings outside the Government of any official or dignitary are concerned, we do not arrange those. Just like when our officials and dignitaries visit the US , they meet people from the Government, they meet others outside the Government. These meetings are not arranged by the State Department. They are arranged by our Embassy. Similarly if he is meeting some political leaders or party representatives, the US Embassy would be arranging that not the Foreign Office.

Asked for comments about the Canadian Government having taken the matter of the Canadian national found mysteriously murder recently in Islamabad with the Government of Pakistan and what did they say, the Spokesperson said:

The matter is under investigation. The Canadian High Commission contacted the Americas Division in the Ministry. They wanted to know if there was any information available about the circumstances of her death and also if we would let them know the outcome of our investigations.

Asked about the response of the Government of Pakistan to the Indian families visiting Pakistan in relation to those missing in action who had already visited six jails and had requested to go to so called military detention camps to seek any possible evidence which may be present about the whereabouts of their relatives and their claim that they would give the evidence they had already found to the Indian Government, the Spokesperson said:

We have repeatedly said this is unprecedented. I don't think we have seen the same kind of humanitarian gesture from the other side. We have gone out of our way to help these families to bring a closure. They have visited six jails and will visit another four. So far what they have said is that they have seen the registers there and have not found any evidence of their relatives there.

Asked about the Indian families claim that though they had looked through the register yet they felt it unlikely that their relatives would have been on the same list as civilians and that they would like to visit other detention centers, the Spokesperson said:

What other detention centers? We have done the maximum we could and again I would say this is unprecedented. We haven't seen the same level of humanitarian gestures from the other side. And as I said at the last briefing also there are about 500 civilian Pakistani prisoners languishing in Indian jails. Many of them have completed their prison sentences which any case were awarded on very minor infarctions of Indian laws like overstaying and in many cases they were denied consular access. We get appeals from desperate mothers every day who want to know about their sons and their plight and believe me this is a very difficult issue.