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Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 23/01/2006

RECORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESPERSON ON 23 JANUARY 2006

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

QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION

- Asked about US' response to Pakistan 's protest over Bajaur incident, the Spokesperson said:

There is no response except that we were informed that the U.S. would be investigating. As you know, we protested and condemned the killing of our citizens. The Foreign Minister told the visiting U.S. Under Secretary that incidents of this nature must not be repeated.

- When her comments were sought on King Abdullah's reported suggestion that Pakistan should sponsor India 's bid for having an OIC-berth as an ‘Observer' state, the Spokesperson said:

The procedure for giving observer status to non-Muslim countries is under discussion. An Inter-governmental committee has been appointed to this effect, and it would be meeting in the near future. It may take a while. The criterion, apart from what is being worked out is that any country which wished to acquire the observer status with O.I.C. should not be involved in any dispute with a member state.

- When her comments were sought on the first-ever visit to India by a Saudi Ruler, and whether it marked a shift in Saudi Arabian Foreign Policy, the Spokesperson said:

The Saudi Foreign Office would be in a better position to respond to that question, however, we do not put embargo on our friends that they cannot have bilateral relations with other countries.

- Asked what steps had been taken by Pakistan to stop the recurrence of Bajaur-like incidents, and whether it had sought any apology or compensation from the U.S. over the issue, the Spokesperson said:

We have not sought an apology, but we made it very clear to the U.S. authorities that security inside Pakistan is Government of Pakistan's business and also if there are any terrorists or militants or insurgents who cross over from Afghanistan into our territory, we are responsible for taking action against them, and we have been doing that.

As for the first part of your question is concerned, it is better that you direct this question to I.S.P.R.

- When her comments were sought on general perception that there was no substantive outcome from the Pakistan-India Foreign Secretary-level talks, the Spokesperson said:

I am sure you have seen the Joint Statement. There are a number of proposals that have been discussed, on some of them there is more or less agreement. We have talked about these in the context of peace and security. Then we have also resolved to address the Jammu & Kashmir issue for its final settlement. We have already stated that the third round is going to be very important because in the first two rounds, we were able to make some progress in the context of confidence building measures. There is improvement in the environment. The Foreign Secretary also emphasized that we need to utilize this opportunity of improved environment and to address the more difficult issues between our two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. There is certainly acknowledgement that this is an issue that we ought to address. We have been assured that India is not shying away from discussing this issue.

- Asked whether U.S. cooperation with India on the peaceful nuclear technology was not a discrimination against Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

We have our own dialogue process with the U.S. Our relations with the U.S. have their own dynamics and we do not have to compare what the U.S. does with other countries, but certainly if an exception is made for one country in the NSG, we would like that to be extended to Pakistan as well.

- Asked whether Pakistan had any piece of advice to offer to Iran on its row over its nuclear porgramme with the West, the Spokesperson said:

We do not offer unsolicited advice. However, if the Iranian leadership asks us, we would give our sincere advice.

- Asked about the preoccupations of President Musharraf on the margins of the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Spokesperson said:

The President will be participating in a number of events. He is also likely to meet many leaders who would be present there. The President has a large number of media engagements. He is also meeting with CEOs of many well-known, well-established business houses. He is going to deliver a keynote address on regionalism at the forum. He is also participating in a panel discussion on ‘Muslim societies in the Modern World'. Apart from that, he would be holding a number of meetings; some of them are confirmed and others are being worked out. He has meetings with the UN. Secretary General, Prime Minister of Turkey , U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

- Asked about the agenda of the ongoing visit to the U.S. by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the Spokesperson said:

You may be following the programme of the Prime Minister. He has held a number of meetings. His visit would help promote economic relations between Pakistan and the US and also promote U.S. investment in Pakistan . The United States is the largest investor in Pakistan and also our bilateral trade is over $3 billion and the balance of trade is in our favour. We are trying to enhance trade and investment relations further. He is also meeting the President of the United States . The two leaders will review bilateral relations, and of course, consider the possibility of expanding our relationship further.

- Asked, with reference to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's reported statement about the trans-Pakistan gas pipeline project, whether Pakistan had succumbed to U.S. pressure on not importing gas from Iran, the Spokesperson said:

We have not succumbed to anyone's pressure. We are working in our national interest. We have repeatedly emphasized that we have our energy requirements which are growing with the growth in our economy. Even today, we have the Iranian Deputy Minister for Petroleum, Mr. Ahmad Njadi Hussain in Pakistan . We are holding discussions. The Technical details of the pipeline are being worked out.

- Asked, what options Pakistan had in the face of reported U.S. statements that they would not give any assurance that the Bajour-like incidents would not recur despite the fact that Pakistan had done so much for the US to fight terrorism, the Spokesperson said;

We are working with the world against terrorism because it is in our national interest. We want to eliminate terrorism from our society; we want to eliminate extremism.

We will be raising this issue at the Tripartite Commission which is meant for coordination between Pakistan , Afghanistan and the U.S. for operations inside Afghanistan , and our cooperation with these two countries on the war against terrorism.

As for agreement, there is no agreement that gives right to any country to operate inside our territory. We have seen the reported statements to this effect, but we have made it very clear that action inside Pakistan by any terrorist is Pakistan 's responsibility.

- Asked what position Pakistan would take if Israel attacked Iranian nuclear installations as per the former's warnings to that effect, the Spokesperson said;

We are absolutely against the use of force. I would reiterate that we are for a peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue. We also acknowledge Iran 's right to peaceful uses of nuclear technology under NPT to which it is a party. Iran has rights and obligations under the treaty.

- Asked what Pakistan's stand would be, in case the issue of Iran's nuclear programme was referred to the UN Security Council, specially after the London meeting which decided to refer Iran's case to UNSC, the Spokesperson said:

It is a hypothetical question. At the London meeting there was no decision to take this issue to the UN Security Council. Our policy is very clear; we are not in favour of taking this issue to the UN Security Council. We want it to be resolved through talks within the IAEA framework.

- Asked about an update on sending a delegation to Gaza , the Spokesperson said:

There are no dates. The delegation is more or less final. We will announce the delegation when we have the dates for the visit.

- In response to a question about OIC's role in the issue of Iranian nuclear programme, the Spokesperson said:

OIC is not in favour of use of force against any of its members. If you look at the Joint Communiqué issued by the recent OIC Summit, it clearly says that OIC opposes use of force against any of its members.

- When her comments were sought on Afghan Foreign Minister's reported statement that militants involved in the subversive activities inside Afghanistan were trained in Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

We are in touch with the Afghan Government over this issue. The Foreign Office of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan Embassy here have clarified that the Afghan Foreign Minister has not made this statement. A statement has however, been made by the Governor of Qandahar. The only Ministry making statements on these issues should be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, not the Governors of various provinces.

- Asked to confirm the veracity of the news reports that India and Pakistan were considering to negotiate an Extradition Treaty, and whether by the terms of the treaty the latter would be obliged to hand over the wanted Muslim militants to the former, the Spokesperson said:

Your question presumes that the so-called Muslim militants are in Pakistan ; no they are not. Secondly, we are not negotiating any Extradition Treaty with India .

- When her comments were sought on the reported concept that United States and Saudi Arabia had decided to de-hyphenate their relations with Islamabad to their relations with New Delhi , the Spokesperson said:

The concept of de-hyphenated US relationship with Pakistan and India is not a new one. It has been there for a long time. What we concentrate on is our own bilateral relations whether with the U.S. , Saudi Arabia or any other country and how we can mutually benefit from these relations. We do not have a veto on any country's relations with another country, neither we expect other countries to have that veto over our relations with another country.

- Asked whether India demonstrated flexibility on the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir in the recently concluded Foreign Secretary-level talks, the Spokesperson said:

The discussions were candid and constructive. A number of proposals were made and these are being discussed. Secondly, the Composite Dialogue is one part of the peace process. There are various channels, and at various levels proposals are being discussed. Flexibility is necessary if we want to move forward on Jammu and Kashmir dispute and if we do not want to remain mired in conflict. If we want to sustain the peace process, it is necessary that both sides show sincerity, courage and flexibility.