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Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 17/04/2006

RECORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESPERSON ON 17 APRIL 2006

Opening Statement

Pakistan-India talks on Wullar Barrage, scheduled for 18 and 19 April, have been postponed. New dates would be worked out shortly. The reason for postponement is that the Indian Secretary had some other commitments.

QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION

- To a question about the Baglihar Dam issue the, Spokesperson said:

The issue of Baglihar Dam is before the neutral expert and in accordance with the procedure we are in touch with him. The next meeting is scheduled to take place some time in May.

- When her comments were sought on President Hamid Karzai's statement about the overland transit trade facility to Afghanistan and India, and tripartite cooperation among Pakistan-Afghanistan-India against terrorism, the spokesperson said:

First, we do not know if the statement attributed to the Afghan President has been reported accurately. Secondly, we have already provided overland transit trade facility to Afghanistan. Pakistan has also allowed all countries including India to use transit route via Karachi. If India wishes, that route is available. As regards overland transit trade facility to India, we have clearly stated time and again that this issue is related to overall trade between Pakistan and India, which is part of the discussion in the composite dialogue process”.

As far as the tripartite cooperation against terrorism is concerned, Pakistan is already fighting terrorism. We are a part of the global effort to fight terrorism and we are fully abiding by our obligations under the UN Security Council Resolutions on the subject.

Pakistan has deployed more than eighty thousand troops on its international border with Afghanistan and we are taking action against any terrorist elements that may enter Pakistan from that side. We believe that Afghan and ISAF forces are doing the same from Afghanistan side.

- To a question, about President Karazi's reported statement that the Kashmir dispute should be set aside for normalization of relations between Pakistan and India, the spokesperson said:

The Kashmir dispute is about the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people and the Kashmiri people would never agree to any suggestion to put the Kashmir dispute aside.

- When her comments were sought on the story of Daud Ibrahim's cook, the spokesperson said:

This is one of those stories that keep emanating from the other side. There were also reports that there was no exit stamp from Pakistan on his passport, obviously because he was not in Pakistan. We have already said that Daud Ibrahim is not in Pakistan.

- When her attention was drawn to the Iranian President's declaration that his country was now a member of the nuclear club, the spokesperson said:

Our position on this matter is very clear. Regardless of the reported claims, this matter needs to be resolved peacefully and through dialogue. Pakistan opposes the use of force. We also hope that all concerned would exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations.

- Asked, whether Pakistan was considering any kind of assistance for Hamas-led Palestinian government in the wake of suspension of aid by the West, the spokesperson said:

“We have not received any specific request for assistance. However, we have ongoing cooperation with the Palestinian Authorities and that is continuing”.

- When asked about the likely visit of President General Pervez Musharraf to UAE, the spokesperson said:

The President has been invited to watch Pakistan-India one-day cricket matches for fund raising for earthquake relief efforts. He may have some bilateral meetings there.

- Asked, whether there would be any impact on the Composite Dialogue process schedule between Pakistan and India because of the postponement of Wullar Barrage talks, the spokesperson said:

Well, talks on the Wullar Barrage will be rescheduled very shortly and effort would be not to disturb the already scheduled meetings. It was just a question of these dates clashing with something that came up in the Indian Secretary Petroleum's programme.

- When her comments were sought on reports claiming deployment of American guards at Pakistani nuclear facilities, the spokesperson said:

There are no American guards at any Pakistani facility. As a member of IAEA, we participate in multilateral programmes that are aimed at enhancing nuclear material security worldwide and any bilateral cooperation that we may undertake would be to support that effort. Pakistan and the United States have been engaged in a wide-ranging regional security dialogue. As part of these wide-ranging exchanges we have also shared ideas and concepts on best practices concerning protection of sensitive nuclear material, technologies and facilities.

- Asked, whether there was some fresh information/development so far as the case of Dr. A.Q. Khan was concerned, the spokesperson said:

There were a couple of articles in the press recently, which have tried to resurrect this issue. There is nothing new in those articles that may warrant a comment. However, I may add here that we have fully cooperated with IAEA, and we have shared that information with some other countries as well. We have also said that in case some new information becomes available to us on the subject, we will be ready to continue the cooperation. We have taken all necessary steps to ensure that there is no nuclear related leakages from Pakistan and as for as Pakistan is concerned the network has ceased to exist.

- When her comments were sought on the governing Pakistan Muslim League Secretary-General Senator Mushahid Hussain's statement in a magazine that the RAW had imparted training about to 600 Baloch tribal dissidents in Afghanistan, the spokesperson said:

Senator Mushahid Hussain holds a responsible position. He heads the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate. He must have reasons for making that statement, but I have not seen it and I can not comment on it.

- When her comments were sought on Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence cooperation, the spokesperson said:

Pakistan-Saudi Arabia have very good defence relations. It is an ongoing process. During the recent visit of His Highness Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, who is also the Defence Minister, naturally there were defence-related discussions; but no new agreement has been signed.

- When a correspondent tried to draw similarities between a recent bomb explosion in Karachi and the one that occurred in Benaras sometime ago, the spokesperson said:

Apart from the fact that these were two terrorist attacks, I don't see any connection.

- When her comments were sought on a visa scandal involved a Pakistani employee of the local Swiss Embassy, the spokesperson said:

First of all whatever action the Police is taking against the employee of the Swiss Embassy, it doesn't fall in the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a Pakistani national and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not come into the picture.