Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 18/06/2007

There was no opening statement

Question/Answer Session:

Asked, to elaborate on the visit of the Foreign Minister to US, the Spokesperson said:

The Foreign Minister Office has issued a press release about the the visit. The visit is taking place in response to a long standing invitation. This is a scheduled visit. In addition to meeting with the Secretary of State, Dr Rice and the US National Security Adviser, the Foreign Minister will interact with members of Congress. He will also address think tanks. There have been a number of visits by US officials to Pakistan but they in no way detract from the importance of this visit. Interactions in Washington have their own value and one cannot substitute the other.

Asked, with reference to reports in the media about the Indian Prime Minister not sending a goodwill message while flying over Pakistani air space as per diplomatic tradition and what that signified when taken in the context of Pakistan India relations, the Spokesperson said:

It is not a diplomatic requirement. Many countries do not have this practice. We do not do it any more either because nowadays there are so many visits. There might have been a change in the Indian practice as well. The Indian High Commissioner would be able to clarify that.

Asked, for comments about the Pakistan Foreign Secretary's statement at the working lunch he hosted for the US Deputy Secretary of State on the need for Pakistan India relations to move beyond the confidence building measures to actual resolution of disputes and issues and whether this implied disappointment of the Government of Pakistan with the progress of the peace process and what Mr. Negroponte's response was, the Spokesperson said:

The Foreign Secretary's meeting with the US Deputy Secretary of State covered a wide range of bilateral matters and regional issues. He also briefed the US Deputy Secretary about the current status of peace process and Composite Dialogue. He said what we have been saying for a long time that Pakistan and India have put in place many confidence building measures in place. Some of them are working very well while others need to be improved further. The institution of confidence building measures has created an environment which is conducive to moving towards settlement of disputes and differences. We have traditionally tried to manage these problems but we feel that now our relations have reached a stage where we need to move towards settlement and resolution of disputes. This discussion was not in the context of a complaint against India . We say to India what we have to say. This was in the context of discussions regarding the peace process.

Asked, if the reports about the Foreign Minister of Malta having raised the issue of restoration of democracy and uniform when he met the President were true, the Spokesperson said:

These are only speculative reports.

Asked, if there was any move on the part of the OIC to protest against the knighthood of Salman Rushdie, the Spokesperson said:

I am not aware of any OIC action at the moment but we have made our views known. Salman Rushdie has tried to insult and malign Muslims through his writings and this provoked very strong sentiments in the Muslim world. We deplore the decision of the British government to knight him. We regret this decision which is insensitive. Our Parliament has also adopted a resolution. We would convey our sentiments to the British government.

Asked, how Pakistan viewed the changed situation in Palestine with the formation of a new interim government especially in view of the important role the President has played for creating a harmonious environment with his Middle East Initiative, the Spokesperson said:

We have already issued a statement on the situation in Palestine which I am sure you have seen. We view the recent developments in Palestine with deep concern. We were encouraged by the agreement reached between Palestinian groups with the good office of Saudi Arabia . We hope all groups would exercise restraint, resolve their differences through negotiations and adhere to the Makkah agreement.

When clarification was sought whether confidence building measures leading to an environment conducive to settlement of disputes between Pakistan and India was an exclusively Pakistani point of view or it was shared by the US as well, the Spokesperson said:

The US views are well known. The US supports the peace process. The international community also supports it. They want issues and disputes between Pakistan and India resolved peacefully.

Asked, with reference to the US Deputy Secretary of State's statement that he had not raised any specific human rights issues with Pakistan , what his specific issues of concern were, the Spokesperson said:

No issue related to Human Rights was raised. Human rights are universal. They are applicable to all societies and all people. No country has a perfect human rights record. If you look at the reports, the Human Rights Watch and the Amnesty international have been critical of almost all countries. Some countries have received more criticism than Pakistan .

Asked, if Pakistan had been able to pacify the concerns of the Canadian government concerning the murder of the Canadian national allegedly by a Pakistani Minister of State, the Spokesperson said:

The matter is under investigation. The Canadians are aware of our efforts underway to resolve the matter and the circumstances of her murder. It is not a question of pacifying anyone. It is the question of a precious human life being lost and of bringing justice to her family.

When her comments were sought about Pakistanis in US being harassed by US law enforcement agencies and if this matter had been discussed with the US Deputy Secretary of State, the Spokesperson said:

Yes. This is a standard talking point with US Administration. The complaints of Pakistanis about harassment, about the immigration procedures, visa regulations and detention are raised with the US .

Asked, for comments about the meeting of some opposition leaders with officials of the European Commission after which the European Commission stated that they would respond if we were to request return of exiled Pakistani leaders, the Spokesperson said:

In fact, we have been emphasizing for a long time that we would like the European countries to be as forthcoming to our requests as we have been to theirs. I am not speaking with reference to any specific question. This is a general statement.

Asked, for comments about the Pakistani political leaders talking frequently to foreign dignitaries about the internal situation of Pakistan and the possibility that this would increase in the run up to the elections, the Spokesperson said:

This is a free country. However, as a self respecting nation we have to determine our own boundaries and decide what we should and should not discuss with outsiders.

Asked, about the measures were being implemented to stop the Afghan refugees who had been sent to Afghanistan frequently from returning to Pakistan and also what efforts had been made to vacate the Afghan refugee camps as they served as a source of violence in the country, the Spokesperson said:

This has been our long standing concern that Afghan refugees who return to Afghanistan do not find adequate facilities and security environment to settle there. They have no means to support themselves and no jobs so they come back. We have raised this with the international community. We have talked to UNHCR that repatriations is not sustainable because the allowance they get on return and start their lives in Afghanistan is insufficient. They must be settled in relatively secure places. They must have job opportunities. When they go there they must have shelter. We proposed to the UNHCR and international community that the minimum amount paid per refugee should be US$100. To start with, Pakistan itself contributed US$5 million for this purpose. UNHCR is the in process of approaching the international community to raise funds. We are aware of this problem and are trying to address it in collaboration with the international community.

Asked, that if the confidence building measures had been effective then what, if any progress had been made regarding investigations of the Samjhauta Express terrorist act and if there had been no breakthrough then did this mean that it should simply be forgotten like other events, the Spokesperson said:

There is no question of forgetting it. We lost many Pakistani citizens in that terrorist act. We have been reminding the Indian Government to share the evidence and findings with us but we have not received anything so far.

Asked, about the prospects of liberalization of the visa regime in the talks between Pakistan and India during talks on friendly exchanges in the coming week, the Spokesperson said:

We sent our draft on visa agreement to the Indian side in February. We hope that when talks take place they would be able to come back to us on that. We expect progress on this but cannot say with certainty that it would be signed.

Asked, for comments about the view which had also been vocalized by opposition leaders that the peace Jirga was unlikely to succeed without inclusion of the Taliban, the Spokesperson said:

We do not decide the composition of the Jirga on the Afghan side. It is up to the Afghan Government and Afghan people. From our side we have included notables who can help in promoting peace and stability in areas adjoining our border.

Asked, for updates on the disappearance of 11 navy officials during the visit to Japan and how it would affect friendly visits by Pakistan Navy to other countries in the future, the Spokesperson said:

Yes it was a goodwill visit. It is unfortunate. But this is irresponsible behavior by few individuals. It has of course caused embarrassment. We hope it will not adversely effect such interactions in the future.

Asked, if the recent development in Palestine meant that the good will on the basis of which President Musharref had taken his initiative was gone or if there was hope that Muslim countries would still be able to sit together and resolve issues, the Spokesperson said:

Muslim countries continue to meet. The leadership continues to consult each other. The situation in Palestine is unfortunate and a source of concern to all of us. We are all very concerned that the efforts that had been made, the agreement which had been put in place have been disregarded. We still hope that all parties, in the interest of the people of Palestine , would try to work out some arrangement. First of all they must stop killing each other and then they need to work out some arrangement.

Asked, if the proposed visit of a Pakistani delegation to Palestine was still on, the Spokesperson said:

Look at the ground situation. Do you think the conditions are right for such a visit? It cannot take place in these conditions.

Asked, for comments about the US opposition to the IPI gas pipeline, and also about reports that while USA and Canada had no issue with the President retaining his uniform yet some European countries like Britain expressed great concern over it, the Spokesperson said:

Regarding the pipeline, we have repeatedly said that we have energy requirements. We find this pipeline feasible and we are determined to pursue it. As regards the President holding two offices, this is our internal matter which can be discussed and debated by the people of Pakistan but outsiders should not be commenting on and we should not be seeking their comments

Asked, how far the bestowal of knighthood on Salman Rushdie would have an impact on inter faith harmony, the Spokesperson said:

This decision is obviously insensitive to the sentiments of Muslims around the world. It does not help efforts by the two sides to bring about harmony and to foster dialogue and greater understanding.

Asked for comments on the Government of Pakistan's position since the Gulf countries had refused to act as launching pads for US in case of an attack on Iran , the Spokesperson said:

I do not think this question even needs to be asked. Our position is very clear. We have said that we are against use of force against Iran . We want whatever problems related to the nuclear program are there to be resolved through dialogue.