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Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 30/01/2006

RECORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESPERSON ON 30 JANUARY 2006

OPENING STATEMENT

VISIT OF KHADIM AL-HARMAIN AL-SHARIFAIN HIS MAJESTY KINGABDULLAH BIN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUD TO PAKISTAN (1-2 FEBRUARY 2006)

At the invitation of the President of Pakistan, Khadim Al-Harmain Al-Sharifain His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will pay a State visit to Pakistan on 1-2 February 2006. His Majesty King Abdullah will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Cabinet members and government officials. This will be His Majesty's 5th visit to Pakistan . King Abdullah last visited Pakistan in October 2003, in his capacity as the Kingdom's Crown Prince. His Majesty King Abdullah will hold in-depth talks with the President, covering a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of interest and concern to the two countries. The visit of the Saudi Monarch is taking place at a critical time in the region. The President's talks with the Royal visitor on the evolving security situation in the region will thus be of particular importance. A number of bilateral cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during the visit. Pakistan is deeply appreciative of the solidarity and support extended by the leadership of Saudi Arabia in the wake of the devastating earthquake on 8 October 2005 . At the instructions of King Abdullah, the Saudi authorities set up an air bridge with Pakistan soon after the earthquake to ensure a steady supply of relief goods for the affected people. Saudi Arabia has additionally pledged $ 573 million for the rebuilding and rehabilitation tasks in the affected areas. Pakistan 's longstanding and fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia have always been exceptionally close and warm. Saudi Arabia is Pakistan 's largest oil supplier. Trade between the two countries during the 2004-05 fiscal year amounted to $ 2.8 billion, while the Saudi investments in Pakistan during this period stood at $ 275 million. Nearly 1.1 million expatriate Pakistanis are living and working in Saudi Arabia , who have made a valuable contribution to the development of the kingdom.

COMMENTS ON EDITORIALS APPEARED IN AMERICAN MEDIA:

Pakistan is fighting terrorism first and foremost in its own national interest. Terrorism is a phenomenon that disrupts progress and development of societies. We, therefore cannot tolerate terrorism, and are determined to root it out. In this fight against terrorism we are cooperating with the international community, including the United States . We have taken effective action at the local level; we have deployed 80,000 troops on our border with Afghanistan . The allegations appearing in a section of the U.S media have therefore no basis. Almost all the Al Qaeda activists interdicted so far have been due to the efforts of Pakistan . This is acknowledged and appreciated by the international community, including the United States . This has been done in a number of meetings and telephone conversations at the highest level. Recently in their meetings with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, President Bush and the other senior officials of his administration appreciated Pakistan 's role in the fight against terrorism. President Bush did so publicly. The comments that Pakistan is not doing enough to eliminate terrorist elements said to be hiding along Pakistan and Afghan border show lack of knowledge of the area straddling Pakistan-Afghanistan. Whenever specific information becomes available, the Pakistani security forces act promptly and effectively.

QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION

- Asked to confirm the veracity of the reports in local media that the U.S ambassador was not summoned to Foreign Office to lodge protest over the Bajour incident, the Spokesperson said:

We never said that the Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office. It is not that we would have not summoned him but because Senator Kerry was visiting Pakistan that day and the Ambassador was busy attending the Senator's meetings, therefore the protest was lodged at the Prime Minister's Office by the Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Secretary met the U.S Ambassador and lodged the protest. So if any one says that no protest was lodged; this is factually incorrect.

- Asked, with reference to her response to the previous question, whether the U.S had assured us that no incident of the nature would occur again, specially when there was violation of our airspace by an American helicopter, the Spokesperson said:

The helicopter incident is being investigated. You would have seen the statement by the DG ISPR. The President of Pakistan has stated that we have been assured that there will be no repetition of similar incidents in future. I would not go into the details, but the President has said that he has received the assurances.

- Asked whether the recent warming up of relations between Saudi Arabia and India could eclipse the fraternal ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

This will not eclipse Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations. Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations are very solid, close and very secure. Saudi Arabia 's relations with another country and our relations with another country do not impact our bilateral relations. Our bilateral relations are quantitatively and qualitatively at a different level.

- Asked whether the issue of ‘Hamas' and the Iranian nuclear programme would come up for discussion with the visiting Saudi King, the Spokesperson said:

When we say that the evolving security situation in the region will be discussed that includes the situation arising out of Iranian nuclear programme and other regional issues.

- Asked whether Hamas had contacted Pakistani authorities, because it had reportedly hinted at sending delegations to the capitals of the major Islamic countries, including Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

They have not contacted us.

- When her comments were sought on the victory of Hamas and about the reports that Israeli Government had frozen the accounts of the Palestinian Authority, and also whether there was a change in Pakistan 's policy, the Spokesperson said:

We have seen the reaction to the election victory of Hamas. We welcome the peaceful, fair and transparent elections. This is democracy; this is the will of the Palestinian people. We do hope that the peace process will continue and Hamas victory would not have any impact on it. We also hope that this also will not have an impact on the development plans in the Palestinian territory. We have repeatedly said that we support the establishment of the state of Palestine living in peace and security along with Israel .

- Asked whether Pakistan would follow the suit of Saudi Arabia by recalling its ambassador from Denmark as a mark of protest on the publication of a blasphemous cartoon in the Danish media, the Spokesperson said:

The OIC has taken exception to this publication. We have been, as OIC, talking to the Danish government. There was a similar publication in Norway ; the Government of Norway has reportedly expressed its regret. We do hope that Denmark would also try to resolve this issue because you cannot hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims in the name of freedom of press.

- When her comments were sought on the President's reported remarks that those who wanted to stop Pakistan from the IPI gas pipeline should give it compensation for that, the Spokesperson said:

I do not know what the President has exactly said, but our position on the pipeline is that we have our energy requirements and we are very serious in developing energy pipelines from Iran , Qatar and Turkmenistan .

- Asked whether the reported request by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to the U.S to use its good offices in resolving disputes between India and Pakistan did not confirm that there was lack of progress in the India-Pakistan peace process, the Spokesperson said:

You would have seen the President's and Prime Minister's statements on this issue. I need not add anything to that. Suffice it to say that Kashmir dispute is an international issue, and the international community is seized of it. We do welcome the international efforts to help Pakistan and India resolve this long-standing dispute.

- Asked, with reference to her response to an earlier question, to elucidate the phrase ‘evolving security situation in the region', the Spokesperson said:

It involves a number of things. Somebody has already mentioned the issue of Iran . Then we would be discussing Pakistan-India relations particularly the latest developments with regard to our discussion on Kashmir issue. We will also discuss other regional developments.

- Asked whether Pakistan still officially insisted on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the Palestinian territories to the line before 1967, the Spokesperson said:

Our position is very clear. We have repeatedly said that we support the establishment of the state of Palestine living in peace and security along with Israel . There is no change in our position.

- Asked whether the U.S had asked Pakistan not to vote for Iran in the IAEA because it had reportedly made a similar suggestion to India , the Spokesperson said:

The US has not asked us. We are not at the moment on the IAEA Board of Governors. We have repeatedly clarified that we are opposed to referring this issue to the UN Security Council; w e want it resolved peacefully through negotiations within the IAEA framework.

- Asked to give an update on the Khokrapar-Manabao train service between India and Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

The talks are taking place today and tomorrow. The officials of the two sides are finalizing the technical details, and they will decide about the dates for the start of the train.

- When her attention was drawn to the reported anti-Pakistan demonstration in Afghanistan , the Spokesperson said:

We have asked the Afghan government to provide protection to our personnel and property there and we have been assured this will be done.

- In response to a question about the recent train accident, and whether foreign hand could be involved in the tragedy, the Spokesperson said:

The possibility of sabotage could not be ruled out. The government has appointed a combined investigation team of various intelligence agencies and they are looking into it. At the moment I cannot say more than that.

- When her comments were sought on the reported statement by the visiting U.S Senator John Kerry that cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear technology could not be extended to Pakistan on account of its track-record and the status of democracy there, and also on the reported US' remarks that because of its proliferation activities, civilian nuclear technology would not be given to Pakistan, the Spokesperson said:

The U.S has not referred to our so-called track record. But more than the question of U.S policy on this, what is important is our energy requirements. Our economy is growing at a fast pace. In the energy mix that we are developing, nuclear energy is a very important element. We plan to produce up to 8,800 MW nuclear energy in the next twenty years. This is a legitimate need and it becomes more acute in view of the fact that Pakistan is deficient in the fossil fuel. Pakistan already has nuclear power plants that are fully covered by IAEA safeguards and any additional nuclear power plants that we may acquire in future we will put them under IAEA safeguards.

We have a very comprehensive legislation and export control mechanism in place. Our commitment to non-proliferation is very clear. When you talk about proliferation, we should keep in mind that IAEA has prepared the list of more than 300 companies that were involved in the proliferation which are from other countries mainly from the Western countries. Proliferation is a global concern, and responsibility to stop it rests on all the countries, not just on Pakistan .

We are a democracy. The two matters supply of nuclear plants and practice of any particular kind or brand of democracy are not related; there is absolutely no link.

- Asked whether the recent test firing of a series of missiles by India was not a source of alarm to Pakistan because no advance notice was given to Pakistan prior to their test firing, the Spokesperson said:

We have our missile development programme. We also keep testing our missiles for their accuracy and these are very successful. As for the testing of missiles by India , they do not fall in the category of the ballistic missiles for which advance notice is required.