Spokesman's Briefing

Date: 20/11/2008

Record of the Press Briefing on 20 November 2008

Opening Statement

The President of Pakistan will undertake a state visit to the United Arab Emirates from 24-25 November 2008.

During the visit, the President will be holding official talks as well as one on one meeting with the President of United Arab Emirates.  Other engagements of the President include meetings with the Vice President/Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and other important dignitaries.

The President will also be meeting with the executives of major Abu Dhabi based companies.

The visit of the President is aimed at a comprehensive up- gradation of Pakistan’s relations with the UAE with a focus on establishing a strategic and economic partnership between the two countries.

This will be the first official visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to UAE.

British Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan

British Foreign Minister David Miliband is scheduled to visit Pakistan on 26th November, 2008. During the visit, he is expected to call on President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, and hold in-depth discussion with Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. He will also call on the Chief of Army Staff General Kiyani. This will be the second visit of Mr. Miliband to Pakistan in last six months.

The visit is part of regular consultations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The two sides will review bilateral relations and exchange views on the regional situation, particularly, development in Afghanistan and the common fight against terrorism and extremism. The two sides will also review progress with regard to the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum.

U.S. Ambassador called to the Foreign Office

The U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson was called to the Foreign Office today and a strong protest was lodged by the Foreign Secretary on the two missiles fired by U.S. drones on a residential compound in Bannu district on 19 November 2008.

The Foreign Secretary conveyed to the U.S. Ambassador Government of Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the missile attack and the loss of life and property caused by the attack.

It was underscored to the U.S. Ambassador that such attacks were a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Foreign Secretary also emphasized that continued drone attacks undermined public support for government’s counter-terrorism efforts. He stressed that these attacks must be stopped.

The Ambassador assured that Pakistan’s concerns would be conveyed to the U.S. government.

Questions/Answers

Q:      Despite protests from Pakistan and assurances given by some US authorities, the drone attacks inside Pakistan have not stopped. Government of France has also expressed its displeasure on these attacks. What is the use of calling the US ambassador again to the Foreign Office?

A:      The Prime Minister of Pakistan has made a detailed policy statement on this issue in the National Assembly today.  I would refer you to that statement in response to your question.  With regard to the second part of your question, yes, the European allies of the US are not on board with Washington’s decision on these attacks. They have demanded a stoppage of these attacks. Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a statement made a couple of weeks ago said that there seemed to be an institutional disconnect within US. The statement was made after the US army leadership assured us that Pakistan’s sovereignty will be respected but the US Special Forces continued their drone/missile attacks in our territory. The Foreign Office is in the business of diplomacy and diplomacy is about communicating with other countries about the issues and finding solutions through negotiation.

Q:      When will President Zardari visit Iran?

A:      The President has been invited to visit Iran but at this stage, we don’t have any dates for the visit.

Q:      What is latest on kidnapped Iranian diplomat?

A:      We don’t have a minute-to-minute report on the unfortunate incident.  It is an area being dealt with by the Interior Ministry and provincial government.  However, the Government of Pakistan has assured the Iranian government that no stone will be left unturned for the safety and recovery of the missing diplomat.

Q:      What is latest on Dr. Afia Siddiqui’s case?

A:      The US District Court has handed over the forensic evaluation report regarding Dr. Afia Siddiqui to the counsels. According to the administrative order of the Court, the evaluation report concludes that “Ms. Siddiqui is not currently competent to proceed as a result of her mental disease, which renders her unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against her or to assist properly in her defence.”  Defence Counsel Elizabeth Fink has told our Embassy officials that the evaluation report will be shared with the Embassy after permission of the Court.

Government of Pakistan is of the view that after the comments of the Court about Dr. Afia Siddiqui’s health condition it is all the more important that she should be repatriated to Pakistan immediately. Her return to Pakistan will greatly facilitate her speedy rehabilitation. We are continuing our efforts to seek Dr. Afia Siddiqui’s early return to Pakistan.

Q:      There was no statement or commitment made by the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Group about providing cash assistance to Pakistan after the recently concluded meeting of High Officials. Your comments please?

A:      We have already made it clear on several occasions that the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum is not a donor group. Project based economic assistance is on the agenda of the Group but there will be no cash assistance programme. The High Officials’ Meeting which was held on 17 November in Abu Dhabi had achieved its objectives. The meeting has identified areas of cooperation and worked out dates for further meetings. We are satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and believe that the Group is on right track. 

Q:      Was today’s protest by Pakistan a part of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell policy’?

A:      I am not aware of any such policy.

Q:      UK was probably the first Coalition government which supported negotiation with the militants in Afghanistan and also Pakistan’s three pronged strategy.  What has since been happening between the two countries?  Does UK still support Pakistan’s policy? Will Miliband discuss these issues during his visit?

A:      Yes, you rightly pointed out that UK was the first Coalition partner that entered into negotiations with opposition in Afghanistan. Britain has been supporting negotiations as a primary tool for bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan. Britain has also been supportive of the Jirga process between Pakistan and Afghanistan. We will be discussing these issues with Foreign Minister Miliband.

Q:      UN World Food Programme has stated that though the supply lines from Pakistan have been restored but they have also shown their concern about these supply lines keeping in view the upcoming severe winter season.  Has Pakistan given them any assurances in this regard?

A:      The Government of Pakistan is taking necessary steps to ensure the continued supply of food to Afghanistan.

Q:      Is there any possibility that Pakistan will take the issue of drone attacks to the UN?  Does the UN Charter provide any such option to Pakistan as these attacks are a violation of International Law?

A:      We are talking to the US at bilateral level because we have decided to follow this path. The attacks in Pakistan territory are violation of sovereignty and, therefore, violation of International Law. The question of options available is speculative and I would not go there.

Q:      Is Pakistan still interested in carrying out probe into assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto through UN? What progress has so far been made in this regard?  What steps are being taken by the UN? What will be the cost of the probe?

A:      Yes, Pakistan is interested in this probe through the United Nations.  It will bring credibility to the findings and that will be accepted inside Pakistan as well as abroad. We are fairly close to an announcement from the UN on modalities of this inquiry.  We still don’t know about the cost of the probe as the modalities are not announced yet.

Q:      Will Pakistan ask India to share the findings of investigations from the military officer arrested in connection with Samjhota Express blast?

A:      Samjhota Express blast is a subject of discussion between Pakistan and India.  As you know a number of Pakistani citizens died in that blast.  We will be asking the Indian authorities to share their findings on Samjhota Express explosion with us. 

Q:      It is reported that cross LoC trade is experiencing some problems on account of banking and communication issues. What do you say about this?

A:      There are certain logistic issues which have slowed down the intra-Kashmir trade. The two sides are working to overcome these issues which are dampening commercial exchanges.  Given political will on both sides we are confident that the intra-Kashmir trade would flourish.

Q:      Is it correct that the meeting of the SAARC Interior/ Home Ministers has been postponed on the request of Bangladesh?

A:      Yes, Bangladesh made a request for the postponement of the SAARC Interior/Home Ministers and its preceding Meetings which were scheduled to be held on 24-27 November 2008 in Islamabad on account of parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. The meetings are now being rescheduled for the first quarter of 2009.

Q:      What is being done for the release of the abducted Canadian journalist?

A:      A Canadian journalist Ms. Beverley Anne Giesbrecht reportedly went missing on 11 November in FR Bannu. She was issued a single entry visa by Pakistan Consulate Vancouver on 3 April 2008.

Ms. Beverly Anne Giesbrecht went to FR Bannu without permission and information to the Pakistani authorities. We are not aware of the circumstances of her disappearance.

Government of Pakistan in collaboration with the elders of the area is carrying out a search operation to locate the missing journalist.

On behalf of the Government of Pakistan, we would request all foreign journalists to follow the laid down procedures when they visit sensitive areas.

Q:      What are your comments on the election held in the IoK?

A:      The elections in IoK have been boycotted by the All Parties Hurriyet Conference. The top APHC leadership has been either arrested or detained. Mirwaiz Umer Farooq is under detention. Syed Ali Geelani was not allowed to travel to Srinager. Similarly Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik is under arrest.

Pakistan has always upheld the inalienable right of the Kashmiri people to realize their legitimate aspirations in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.

Pakistan has always underscored the need for associating the true representation of the Kashmir people with the Pakistan-India process on Jammu and Kashmir.  The ongoing IoK elections cannot be construed as authentic expression of the real aspirations of the Kashmiri people.