Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 31/01/2007

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS BRIEFING ON 31 JANUARY 2007

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

Question/Answer Session

Asked whether India and Pakistan were showing equal flexibility on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir , the Spokesperson said:

That is a matter of judgment and I am not willing to make that judgment. The bottom-line is that Jammu and Kashmir is the core issue between Pakistan and India , and we need to resolve it. There are discussions and we believe that there is a realization in India as well that we need to resolve all the differences and issues between our two countries.

When asked about the specific ideas that President Musharraf had discussed during his visit to the Middle East and South East Asia and whether those ideas include starting a dialogue with, and recognition of the State of Israel and also if the Palestinian leadership had been taken into confidence regarding these ideas, the Spokesperson said:

Obviously the leaders are holding discussion. I would not go into the details of the ideas that are being discussed. At present, we are still at the stage of exploring various ideas and exchanging views.

You know our position. Recognition of Israel or establishing relations with Israel would depend on the progress towards the establishment of a viable, independent Palestinian State . Before that there is no such consideration either in Pakistan or collectively among Muslim countries to establish diplomatic relations with Israel . At this stage, we are not discussing an interface with Israel by Muslim countries or Pakistan . Basically, the agenda includes the Palestine issue, the situation in Iraq , general situation of the Middle East region which is not only a source of concern to the region, but to the entire Muslim world. The need to promote harmony among the Muslim countries and addressing the challenges of extremism and terrorism are also on the President's agenda.

It is a process. Consultations are still going on. There have not been any consultations between President Musharraf and the leadership of Palestine . He, however, did speak to the leadership of various countries including Turkey and Iran . He has visited various capitals. Let us see what emerges from these visits and what kind of initiatives all of them eventually agree on.

In response to another question about the President's visit to Middle East, whether the issue of Iran was on the agenda and if not why and concerning suspicions about the real purpose of the initiative, the Spokesperson said:

On Iran our position is well-known. We have already discussed at length as to why we are taking all these initiatives. The President was requested by the leaders of a number of Muslim countries to play a role. I do not know what kind of suspicions this initiative is giving rise to. We have already made it clear that these visits are not being undertaken at the behest of anyone outside.

This initiative is needed because the peace process in Palestine is stalled; the situation in Iraq is very alarming; there is the problem of extremism and terrorism. During the last one week there have been a number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan . Then there is the need to bring about greater harmony within the Muslim world. These are challenges which affect not only the countries that are in proximity of Palestine and Iraq but also the Muslim countries outside the region including Pakistan . That is why the President has visited the Middle East and has gone to consult the leadership of Indonesia and Malaysia .

When her comments were sought on the reports that one of the proposals the President was discussing was the deployment of the multinational peacekeeping force comprising troops from the Muslim countries in Iraq ahead of the probable withdrawal of the US troops, and whether Pakistan would contribute to the force, the Spokesperson said:

I can not confirm that there is any specific proposal of this nature. The situation in Iraq is a matter of deep concern and it is on the agenda of the President's visits. How the Muslim countries both neighbouring as well as other influential Muslim countries can help contain that situation is under discussion. I cannot go into the details of what specific steps could be considered.

When her comments were sought on the legislation adopted by the US House of Representatives which stated that Pakistan 's nuclear and missile programme was inconsistent with Pakistan-US bilateral relations and whether Dr. A Q Khan could be handed over to the US if there was such a demand, the Spokesperson said:

I do not recall any reference to Pakistan 's nuclear and missile programmes in the House bill and any reference that it is inconsistent with Pak-US relations. Any categorical position of this nature would be inconsistent with the spirit of Pakistan-US bilateral relations. We do not accept this position. Pakistan is a nuclear weapons State . That is a reality and it is going to stay that way. Secondly, the legislation has been adopted by the House of Representatives only. The US Senate is yet to come up with its own version, and then the two versions would have to be reconciled in the conference process. We expect the Administration to also intervene and we expect that the language of the final legislation would be more balanced. We do not see the language of the bill adopted by the House of Representatives as balanced.

On the second question, our position is very clear. As we have already stated if there are any questions, they should be sent to the Government of Pakistan. We would investigate and respond.

Asked, with reference to her response if Pakistan had received any assurance from the US Administration that the language of the bill would be changed, the Spokesperson said:

We expect the US Administration to work with Congress. You would recall the recent statement by an official of the US Administration in his interaction with the press here that the Administration would be working with the Congress to make the language of the bill more balanced.

Asked if Pakistan would grant transit-trade facility to India for Afghanistan , the Spokesperson said:

We have given transit trade facility through the Karachi port to Afghanistan which is a land-locked country. India is also welcome to use Karachi port for this purpose. Giving the land-route transit trade facility to India has economic as well as political implications. Pakistan would have to prepare its public opinion before taking such a step. If there is some positive movement in the resolution of disputes between Pakistan and India , it would become possible for the Government of Pakistan to prepare the public opinion in this regard.

Asked, with reference to her response whether she would agree that the resolution of issues between Pakistan and India would take a while, on the other hand granting transit facility could be done immediately, the Spokesperson said:

I have already said that we would need to prepare our public opinion for that and that takes a while. If there is some definitive movement towards the resolution of disputes then that would make it possible for the Government of Pakistan to prepare the public opinion in Pakistan .

Asked again, with reference to President's Musharraf's visit to Middle East, whether the ideas relating to Iraq had been discussed with the US , the Spokesperson said:

At the moment consultations are being held among the Muslim countries. If at some stage, there are some alternative plans which the Muslim countries can offer then of course they will be discussed with EU and the US . The situation in Iraq poses one of the major challenges. What the Muslim countries can do to contain the problem and to help stabilize the situation is under discussion among the Muslim countries.

Asked what specific role Turkey can play in the Middle East , the Spokesperson said:

Every country has a role. I am not going into the specifics as to what role individual Muslim countries can play. I do not think we have reached that stage as yet.

When her comments were sought on the provision of four nuclear reactors to India by Russia , the Spokesperson said:

I do not have any comments. This is only a memorandum of understanding.

In response to a question about reports that Pakistan wanted to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group which required signing of NPT, the Spokesperson said:

We have been interacting with the Nuclear Suppliers Group. There have been a couple of visits by the NSG delegations to Pakistan and we have conveyed our interest in establishing cooperation with the Nuclear Suppliers Group for the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Pakistan fulfils the criteria for membership of NSG except that we are not a signatory to the NPT, and we have no intention of becoming a member of NPT.

When her attention was drawn to the Afghan Foreign Minister's complaint that Afghan Government had been bypassed by the donor countries while implementing their reconstruction plans, the Spokesperson said:

That is basically an Afghan problem and they are to sort it out. The reconstruction activities we are undertaking in Afghanistan are in close collaboration and consultation with the Afghan government. They have in fact identified a number of projects which we are working on. We have also assured them that this can become a rolling fund for further projects that the two sides will identify. So this kind of criticism is not applicable to Pakistan .

Asked whether President Musharraf's call on the EU Foreign Policy Chief was also part of the initiative on the Middle East and if so, did this not mean that the EU and US were also behind this initiative, the Spokesperson said:

That was not for consultations. The EU can play a role in reviving the peace process in the Middle East . So it was just to keep them informed.

When her comments were sought on the reported statement by a US official that the US Administration would oppose IPI gas pipeline project, the Spokesperson said:

Our position is very clear. We have energy requirements, and we are determined to pursue this gas pipeline. You may have seen reports that there is a broad understanding on the pricing issue and we are determined to follow our interests.