Spokesman Briefings

Date: 27/02/2008

Record of Press Briefing on 27 February, 2008

Opening Statement

The first meeting of the Pakistan-India Judicial Committee

New Delhi : 26 February 2008

The first meeting of the Pakistan-India Joint Judicial Committee on Prisoners was held in New Delhi on 26 th February 2008 . The Committee was formed in January 2007 by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and the External Affairs Minister of India to recommend steps for humane treatment and expeditious release of prisoners of the respective countries in each other's jails.

The members of the Committee are Justice (Retd) Mr. Abdul Qadeer Chaudhary, Justice (Retd) Mr. Fazal Karim, Justice (Retd) Mr. Nasir Aslam Zahid, and Justice (Retd) Mr. Mian Muhammad Ajmal from the Pakistan side and Justice (Retd) Mr. Nagendra Rai, Justice (Retd) Mr. Amarjeet Choudhary, Justice (Retd) Mr. A. S Gill and Justice (Retd) Mr. M.A. Khan from the Indian side.

The Committee recommended to the two Governments that:

•  A consolidated list with full particulars and their present status of nationals in each others' jails be exchanged on 31 st March 2008 ;

•  Prisoners who have completed their sentences and whose national status has been verified be released forthwith;

•  Special consideration, on compassionate and humanitarian basis, be accorded to women, juvenile and disabled prisoners for their repatriation;

•  As agreed between the two Governments, those fishermen in custody whose nationality status is confirmed be released forthwith and in remaining cases, Consular Access be provided by 31 st March 2008 ;

•  All efforts be made to arrange early release of all those prisoners, accused or convicted of minor offences, once their nationality status is confirmed; and

•  Each country may immediately notify the other of the arrest of its nationals and provide Consular Access expeditiously.

The Committee also agreed to visit jails in Pakistan in April 2008 on dates agreed through diplomatic channels. This would be followed by a return visit to Indian jails.

Question/Answer Session

Q: W hat mechanism has been evolved for the release of the prisoners?

A: The Judges Committee in itself is part of the mechanism. Interest of Pakistan in this Committee was to approach the issue of prisoners with a humane angle. We are deeply disturbed by the sufferings of prisoners due to unwarranted delays in release of prisoners, who might have stayed in prisons way longer than their original sentences.

Q: Does Pakistan intend to recognize Kosovo?

A: Pakistan has always supported Kosovo's cause in the United Nations. We had also supported the recommendations of Martti Ahtisaari initiative. We remain committed to this policy direction. We have noted the recognition extended by a number of important countries to the declaration of independence by the Kosovo Parliament and the statement made by the OIC Secretary General expressing happiness over this development. Our policy regarding Kosovo will be guided by these developments, consideration of the aspirations of the people of Kosovo and our desire for peace and stability in Kosovo and the region. The recognition of a state is a legal matter. As is usual in such cases, we are coordinating our decision with other countries, particularly major OIC member states.

Q: Do you have any news about Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin?

A: I don't have any news to share but I assure you that every effort is being made to locate and recover Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin. We are worried and concerned about the security of our missing colleague. We also understand the frustration which is experienced because of the lack of flow of information, but our prime concern is the security and safe return of Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin. I assure you that if there is any information which we are able to share without compromising the safety of the Ambassador, we would not hesitate to share that with you.

Q: Some countries have expressed reservations, such as Serbia and Russia , regarding the declaration of independence by Kosovo. This declaration of independence will open a Pandora's box. What do you say about that?

A: We are aware of the legal debate that is going on in the international community on Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence but I cannot comment on what other countries think and what is their take on the issue.

Q: Do you have a figure on Pakistani and Indian prisoners?

A: I have a compressive brief on prisoners. The number of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails is 450 while the number of Indian prisoners in Pakistan is about 500. The number of prisoners we have released since 2003 is 2657 while India has released 827 prisoners in the same period.

Q: There are reports that China has approached Pakistan regarding the gas pipe line project. Do you confirm it?

A: China has not formally proposed to join IPI but this possibility is being discussed at other forums.

Q: Can you please give us the number of India and Pakistan women and children in prisons? According to a previous undertaking, cases of fishermen caught in Mumbai and Karachi will not be referred to the Capitals rather their cases will be handled by the provinces so as to expedite the process of their release. What has been done in that regard?

A: I don't have figures on the women and juvenile prisoners at the moment. The Judges Committee has now the mandate to look into the prisoners' cases to expedite their release. This Committee will address most of the problems regarding the prisoners.

Q: There are reports that Chinese nationals in Pakistan have lately been involved in illegal activities. What is the government doing in that regard? Is the Chinese government informed about it?

A: The governments of Pakistan and China are working with each other on this issue. The reports of involvement of foreign nationals in any illegal activity is always addressed in coordination with the concerned embassy.

Q: The Indian President has expressed commitment to the talks between India and Pakistan . However the statement gives a general impression that there will be some pre-conditions in resumption of the talks? How do you comment on this statement?

A: We have seen the statement of the Indian President to the Parliament. I believe that essentially the Indian President was talking about the schedule of the meetings because the last series of meetings under the composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India were held in November - about a couple of months ago. The meeting of Judges' Committee on prisoners had concluded yesterday. The bilateral talks, therefore, are continuing without interruption. Dates for review meeting of the 4 th round of talks at Foreign Secretary level followed by a ministerial review meeting would be held in Islamabad in next few weeks. The 5 th round of talks will start immediately after conclusion of the 4 th round. Schedule for these meetings is being discussed through diplomatic channels.

Q: What kinds of crimes are the Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails involved in?

A: The Pakistani prisoners in Indian prisons are usually involved in visa overstay, inadvertent crossing over or other minor crimes. Also, there are a small number of fishermen who strayed into the Indian waters.

Q: Joseph Biden made some critical comments about Pakistan , yesterday. Do you have a take on it?

A: I have seen the transcript of Senator Joe Biden's rather long speech at Council on Foreign Relations, New York . It had a number of elements; most of them were quite accurate. However, there were parts which did not represent the ground realities.

Q: Don't you think that the meetings between the politicians and the Ambassadors in Islamabad and Lahore is a violation of the diplomatic norms? Some of the Ambassadors clearly indicated their interests in certain political parties. Isn't it interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan ?

A: We have discussed this before also. Pakistan is a free country. We don't have any laws which prohibit meetings of the politicians, journalists or citizens with diplomats. However, the diplomats need to observe usual diplomatic norms and not make statements which could be construed as interference in the internal affairs.

Q: There are reports that Pakistan has provided bases to the US for the un-manned planes. Your comments please?

A: There are no US drone bases on Pakistan 's territory. Pakistan has intelligence sharing arrangement with the US and other partners in global war on terrorism. This arrangement is well known and we had discussed it in our briefings on several occasions. This intelligence sharing arrangement, however, does not include providing bases for stationing pilotless spy aeroplanes in Pakistan .

Q: There is a report that US is not reimbursing the money incurred by Pakistan on account of Coalition Support Fund (CSF). What is the exact amount of the outstanding money?

A: I am not aware of the exact amount but yes there are outstanding sums against the US government, particularly pertaining to recent months.

Q: Why is the gas pipe line project still called IPI? India has withdrawn from the project and now the name of the project should be changed. Has China formally asked to be included in IPI?

A: Technically it is still IPI as India continues to be a part of it. India has not withdrawn from the project. As for as China 's participation is concerned it is being discussed at different forums but China has not officially proposed to be a part of it. We, however, will welcome the participation of China in the project.