Opening Statements:

Visit of Palestinian President

The President of the State of Palestine, His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, will pay an official visit to Pakistan on 12 February 2010. He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister, Mr. Riad Maliki, and a team of political and economic advisers.

During the visit, President Mahmoud Abbas will hold official meetings with President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani. The two sides will exchange views on the prevailing situation in the Middle East, regional and international issues, and matters of bilateral interest.

Pakistan supports the just cause of the brotherly Palestinian people for the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of their own, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Pakistan has consistently called for early resolution of the Palestinian issue in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions. Pakistan believes that a comprehensive and just resolution of the issue of Palestine will promote peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Foreign Minister will visit Brussels

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi will visit Brussels from 14 to 18 February 2010. During his stay there, the Foreign Minister will preside over a conference of Pakistani envoys based in Europe, meet Baroness Cathrine Ashton, EU High Representative of Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary General NATO, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen and address the North Atlantic Council at NATO Headquarters on 17 February.

The Foreign Minister will also attend the 7 th Worldwide Security Conference at the World Customs Organization and he will also give a keynote address there.

The Foreign Minister will also meet with members of the Pakistani community in Brussels, as well as interact with think-tanks and media.

Question-Answer Session

Q: What is the rationale of Secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India? Will this serve as a prelude to the Composite Dialogue?

A: You must have seen the press release we issued yesterday. As far as we are concerned, we would like this process of engagement lead to the resumption of the Composite Dialogue between the two countries and that it is a result-oriented process.

Regarding the rationale, I will draw your attention to the Joint Statement issued following the two Prime Ministers meeting at Sharm el-Shaikh. The two Foreign Secretaries were mandated to meet and discuss the way forward including resumption of the Composite Dialogue.

Q: Do you think India is serious and sincere in resolving all issues including Kashmir and Water related dispute?

A: This is what we hope for. The whole purpose of engagement between the two countries should be to resolve all the bilateral disputes and to achieve this we need to engage with each other. As has been stated by our Prime Minister today, without engaging with each other we cannot resolve our dispute and without which there cannot be lasting peace and prosperity in the region.

Q: So it is confirmed that the two Foreign Secretaries will meet anyhow?

A: We are yet to respond to India's suggestion.

Q: Are we going to discuss Indian interference in Balochistan as you referred to Sharm el-Shaikh?

A: We will discuss all the issues whenever and wherever this meeting takes place.

Q: Earlier this week it seemed that the Foreign Office was not willing to accept anything less than the Composite Dialogue? What brought about the change in this position? Was it military high command or civilian leadership?

A: What I can tell you is that there are no preconditions on either side and this is precisely what Pakistan has been saying all along. We strongly believe that we cannot have a dialogue with preconditions. Pakistan looks forward to be engaging with India in a meaningful and result-oriented composite dialogue process in the interest of peace and prosperity in South Asia. We hope to resolve all issues that bedevil relations between our two countries.

Q: NATO forces in Southern Afghanistan are following attack and reconciliation strategy? Does Pakistan agree with this policy?

A: You would recall that we did express our concerns vis-a-vis the military surge in Afghanistan. At the same it is very encouraging that the London Conference endorsed Pakistan's policy of three D's – Development, Deterrence and Dialogue. All along we have stressed that it is important rather imperative that all three aspects of this strategy should be pursued simultaneously. We do believe that reconciliation is important in the context of Afghanistan. As we have said earlier, we would like to support an Afghanistan-led process in this context and Pakistan would be ready to help in whatever way the government of Afghanistan wishes us to help.

Q: The Prime Minister stated on record that India agreed to talks due to foreign pressure. Who pressurized India?

A: Prime Minister did make this remark but let us not talk about what forced India to offer the Foreign Secretary level talks. We now want to move forward and to pursue resolution of disputes and peace with India. As we have been saying and reiterated our position yesterday, we want our engagement with India to be result-oriented and meaningful. We will continue working towards that objective.

Q: Will Pakistan Government reverse its policy of fighting Taliban factions in Pakistan as it offers to mediate between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban?

A: I think the two are qualitatively different situations. We would not like our problems and difficulties to be seen through the prism of issues in Afghanistan.

Q: General Kiyani offered to mediate between the Afghan government and Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan. What mediatory role can Pakistan play and is Pakistan already in touch with the Afghan Taliban?

A: As I said earlier, we would be helpful in bringing about reconciliation. Let this be determined by the Government of Afghanistan rather than by Pakistan.

Q: What steps are being taken by Pakistan in Dr. Aafia's case?

A: Our Ambassador in Washington is currently in Pakistan. We have had discussions with him on this particular matter. The Prime Minister has issued instructions to look into ways and means to secure her honourable release and return to Pakistan. We are working on different possibilities and you know that the sentence would be announced on the 6 th of May. Until that happens, the appeal process cannot start. We are pursuing this matter through diplomatic and legal channels. I assure you that no effort will be spared. Our Embassy in Washington is vigorously pursuing the matter in consultations with Dr. Siddiqui's family and the defence lawyers' team.

Q: Indian agencies are involved in sabotage activity in Pakistan. Will this be raised in the next India-Pakistan meeting?

A: Definitely. This is one of our concerns and we will raise this with India at the proposed meeting whenever it takes place.

Q: India has the history of back tracking from international commitments, including from the Sharm el-Shaikh Joint Statement. How can we be sure that India will stand by its commitment this time?

A: Following the Mumbai attack, the Composite Dialogue was suspended by India. In the process, we lost over a year. Pakistan would like to see that the bilateral engagement this time round is irreversible and result-oriented. One hopes this time India would not back track and will allow the Composite Dialogue process to move forward in a meaningful manner.

Q: Shah Rukh Khan is being persecuted by Indian extremists. Will the Government of Pakistan offer him nationality?

A: No comments.

Q: What hinders you from committing and confirming that the Foreign Secretaries will in fact meet?

A: We have not yet conveyed our response to India. The inter-Ministerial meeting's recommendations have been submitted to the Prime Minister. So let us wait and see.

Q: Is there any progress on water issues after the meeting of Indus Water Commissioners?

A: We are working on that. The meeting on technical inspection ended yesterday. Our Indus Waters Commissioner will visit India in March. We will see how to proceed further. The Indian Indus Waters Commissioner did say yesterday that India is interested and willing to resolve all water disputes with Pakistan in accordance with the Indus Waters Treaty. We would like to take this on its face value. However, at the same time, we are not oblivious to our interests. We will pursue all avenues available in order to protect our legitimate interests without losing time.