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Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 13/03/2006

RECORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESPERSON ON 13 MARCH 2006

OPENING STATEMENT

As agreed during President Bush's visit to Pakistan on 3-4 March 2006, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman visited Islamabad today to discuss a wide range of issues related to Pakistan 's growing energy needs. Secretary Bodman's visit symbolizes the strengthened and expanded relationship between the United States and Pakistan over the last five years.

Closer U.S.-Pakistan ties and cooperation have helped to bolster Pakistan 's economy, which registered the second fastest growth in Asia last year. To continue this solid economic growth, Pakistan must have sufficient energy through a broad range of energy sources to ensure its energy security. Pakistan has prepared an Energy Security Plan (2005-2030), which forecasts a seven-fold increase in total primary consumption and an over eight-fold increase in the requirement of power over the next twenty-five years.

As President Bush underscored during his recent visit, the United States recognizes the urgency of Pakistan 's energy needs and stands ready to assist Pakistan in developing sustainable options that meet both countries' GuANTArequirements and concerns.

Secretary Bodman called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and held an expanded delegation-level meeting with Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri, who later hosted a working lunch. The talks provided Secretary Bodman and his delegation an opportunity to meet with key Pakistani officials working on a variety of energy issues.

Secretary Bodman and Foreign Minister Kasuri discussed key issues and the next steps for collaboration in the energy sector. The Pakistan side briefed the U.S. delegation on the country's energy needs and the possible alternative sources, including hydel, gas, coal, nuclear and renewables. The U.S. private sector will be important to helping Pakistan achieve its energy objectives, and the United States will consult with its energy sector on Pakistan 's energy needs.

As part of the Strategic Partnership announced by President Bush and President Musharraf last week, the U.S. and Pakistan agreed to explore ways to meet Pakistan 's growing energy needs to strengthen its energy security, and affirmed their commitment to establish an energy working group.

In furtherance of this aim, Secretary Bodman invited Pakistan to send a team to Washington to discuss how the two countries can work together in energy cooperation and the steps that can be taken to attract more U.S. investment. The United States will also discuss with Pakistan the importance of an investment climate that will accelerate new energy investments and encourage further exploration of energy development opportunities for Pakistan .

The U.S. and Pakistan 's ongoing cooperative efforts include renewable energy resource assessments by the National Renewable Energy Lab and funded by the USAID South Asia Regional Initiative – Energy Secretary Bodman appreciated the Government of Pakistan's gracious hospitality.

QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION

Asked, with reference to the opening statement, whether the IPI Gas Pipeline project was taken up with the visiting U.S Secretary of Energy, the Spokesperson said:

No, it was not discussed. U.S views on the issue are well known but our views on the gas pipeline from Iran are also well known.

Asked whether Pakistan was taken into confidence about the proposed U.S-Russia cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, because the U.S Secretary Energy was to leave for Moscow for that purpose, the Spokesperson said:

Various ideas were discussed. The two sides briefed each other on various ideas. However, I would not like to go into the details.

- When her comments were sought on the reported statement by the Chairman Afghanistan's Senate, Sibaghatullah Mujaddadi that Pakistan 's ISI was involved in making a life-attempt on him, the Spokesperson said:

We have already responded to that. We have condemned the terrorist attack and we have also rejected the baseless and unfounded allegations made against Pakistan . I would draw your attention to President Karzai's statement that at the moment there was no evidence as to who was behind the attack and that investigations were underway.

Asked about the tension in relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

We want the best of relations with Afghanistan . Certain allegations were made from the Afghan side. The President of Pakistan made very clear and emphatic statement in which he questioned the logic of leaking intelligence information to media. Pakistan and Afghanistan have mutual interest in having good relations and in peace and stability. We both face a threat from terrorism and it is in our common interest to cooperate with each other. We have been cooperating and we hope that we would be able to further intensify this cooperation. Pakistan has taken a number of steps, including the deployment of more than 80,000 troops on our border with Afghanistan . We want to see matching steps by the Afghan side.

Asked why Pakistan did not have diplomatic relations with a natural resources-endowed country like Congo , the Spokesperson said:

There are many countries especially in Africa where we would like to open our missions. The problem is our limited resources. At the moment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of formulating some proposals for opening new missions in various parts of the world over the next five to ten years.

Asked whether there was any proposal on the cards about Uranium enrichment for Iran in Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

There is no such proposal.

When her attention was drawn to the U.S. State Department's Human Rights report that criticized Pakistan on account of its poor human rights record, the Spokesperson said:

The US State Department brings out the human rights situation report around the world every year. It is an annual feature. We have already commented on this. We have of course rejected this report. It makes sweeping statements and baseless allegations which we have rejected. We also feel that countries need to have more introspection. We all need to look at our own human rights record.

Asked whether there was any immediate likelihood of a high-level political/official contact between Afghanistan and Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

There are frequent contacts between the two countries. However, if you are asking about a political level visit, at the moment no such visit is on the cards.

Asked whether there was any progress on any specific proposal with the visiting U.S Secretary Energy, the Spokesperson said:

The two sides have discussed a number of ideas and these discussions will be carried forward when a delegation from Pakistan visits Washington at the invitation of the U.S Secretary Energy.

- In response to a question about the worsening human rights

situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, the Spokesperson said:

Of course, the Human Rights situation in Kashmir remains a source of concern for Kashmiris and for Pakistan . We do hope that while there are confidence building measures between Pakistan and India , the Indian authorities would be taking steps to ensure that Kashmiris have some respite.

Asked, with reference to the US State Department's report on the human rights situation around the world, whether a country with a track-record of human rights violations in the Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib Jail had any moral right to point fingers at others, the Spokesperson said:

As I said, every country needs to look at its own track record.

- Asked whether cooperation in the field of nuclear energy was discussed with the visiting U.S Secretary, and whether he was receptive to Pakistani request, the Spokesperson said:

This is something, we have been discussing. Yes it was discussed as referred to in the Joint Press Statement. We will continue to take this issue up.