Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 03/01/2007

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS BRIEFING ON 03 JANUARY 2007

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

Question/Answers Session

In response to a question about diplomatic movement regime between Pakistan and India , and whether Taxila would be included in the municipal limits of the capital in order to enable the Indian diplomats to visit it, the spokesperson said: 

This is factually incorrect. We have repeatedly said that we want to liberalize the existing mechanism for the movement of diplomats. India has imposed restrictions on the movements of our diplomats. We have had discussions on this. When the Foreign Secretary went to New Delhi , this issue was discussed. Foreign Secretary put some proposals. We proposed liberalization of the existing regime for diplomats. India was to respond to our proposals within one month. We did not receive any response from India . So this claim that there was an agreement between the two Foreign Secretaries under which Pakistan agreed to open Taxila for visits by Indian diplomats without prior permission is factually incorrect.

Asked about the context of the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Afghanistan , the Spokesperson said:

The Prime Minister was scheduled to meet President Karzai in Ashgabad when he went to attend the funeral of President Niyazov. Since the Prime Minister had to return to attend an earlier planned event in Karachi , the meeting did not take place in Ashgabad. Subsequently, President Karzai telephoned the Prime Minister to extend an invitation for an early visit. He in fact suggested the meeting before Eid. The Prime Minister agreed to pay a visit soon after Eid.

The Pakistan-Afghan relationship is unique and frequent high-level interaction is its hallmark. There have been many two-way visits by the leadership of the two countries. President Karzai has so far visited Pakistan 9 times including as chief guest on Pakistan Day on 23 March 2005 . His last visit to Pakistan was in February 2006. The President and Prime Minister have visited Afghanistan 6 times.

We attach great deal of importance to our relations and interaction with Afghanistan . These contacts are helpful in addressing the challenges that our two countries face.

Asked about the purpose of the Indian Foreign Minister Parnab Mukherjee's visit to Pakistan , and whether the issue of Jammu and Kashmir was on the agenda as well, the spokesperson said:

Of course, Kashmir will be discussed. Basically the purpose of the visit is to extend invitation to our leadership to attend the SAARC Summit that will be held in India in April 2007. The two Foreign Ministers will review the third round of the Composite Dialogue. Whenever there is a meeting between the Indian and Pakistani leaders or senior government functionaries, Jammu and Kashmir is discussed.

Asked to justify her statement on Pak-Afghan relationship in the face of recent acrimonious verbal exchanges between the two countries, the Spokesperson said:

There are ups and downs of course, but as I said this is a very unique relationship. We have unbreakable bonds in the shape of links between the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan . As already stated, the visit by the Prime Minister will be used to exchange views on all aspects of relations and to discuss how we can address the common challenges that we are facing.

When her comments were sought on a report by an international center that had questioned the Human Rights record of Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

This is a report by one think-tank not the US Administration. I do not think that it requires a comment by our government. We attach great importance to the promotion and protection of the human rights. The Government of Pakistan has taken many measures and this is one issue which is very high on the Government's agenda and more steps are being taken. Unfortunately, human rights' violations occur everywhere including in the United States . Human rights are closely linked with the level of economic development. Sustained economic progress and establishment of a fairer international trade regime would facilitate our efforts to promote human rights in Pakistan . Of course, it is the responsibility of all states to protect and promote the human rights as they are universal and indivisible.

Asked about the veracity of a news report claiming that Pakistan and Iran had decided to go ahead with the gas pipeline project sans India , the Spokesperson said:

This is just a speculative report. The three countries are discussing the issue of pricing, and the consultants would be making proposals and recommendations. And if the recommendations by the consultants are not to the satisfaction of the Governments, perhaps there will be intervention by the leadership. This was discussed when the President of Pakistan spoke to his counterpart in Iran and subsequently when the Foreign Minister visited Iran . It was agreed that we will wait for the recommendations of the consultants.

Asked when Pakistan would start the process of fencing and mining of its border alongside Afghanistan , the Spokesperson said:

You may recall what the Foreign Secretary had said. He said that the Government had decided to task the Army to work out the modalities. That means that the army would identify the problem areas where we feel that the movement is posing problems and is difficult to control. The Government would be then looking into this proposal and will take it from there. To start with, the Army has to identify sectors and areas, because it has to be selective. It is not going to be all along the border. Let me reiterate that we do not want to impede the movement of legitimate travelers between the two countries.

Asked whether India and Pakistan had exchanged any new list of the nuclear facilities in the two countries, the Spokesperson said:

The list is updated every year and if there is any new facility that needs to be added, it is added. I do not think, there is any new facility.