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Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 27/03/2006

RECORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESPERSON ON 27 MARCH 2006

OPENING STATEMENT

As stated earlier, in addition to the general cordial sentiments, there are a number of positive and important elements in the Indian Prime Minister's speech.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has spoken about finding pragmatic, practical solutions to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. In that context, he has suggested that the two countries can work towards making the Line of Control irrelevant.

President Musharraf has stated on a number of occasions that the status quo can not be a solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and suggested that the Line of Control should be made irrelevant for Kashmiris.

The Indian Prime Minister has also stated that Kashmiris on the two sides of the Line of Control should work out cooperative, consultative mechanisms so as to maximize the gains of cooperation in solving problems of social and economic development of the region. He has also called for freer movement and trade across the Line of Control.

The President and Prime Minister of Pakistan have emphasized that the time has come for India and Pakistan to have focused and meaningful discussions for a settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The President has offered the ideas of self-governance, demilitarization and joint management which have found resonance among Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control. We also believe that Kashmiris should be involved with the peace process. Their intensified interaction with the Governments of Pakistan and India is a welcome development.

It was the initiative of the President of Pakistan to open the five points across the Line of Control soon after the devastating earthquake of October 8 2005 . While agreement in principle exists, these points have yet to become operational. Pakistan favours simplification of procedures for freer movement of Kashmiris across the Line of Control. We hope that the Indian Prime Minister's public endorsement that people on both sides of the Line of Control should be able to move freely and trade will lead to immediate activation of the five points.

The ideas of a non-aggression pact or a friendship treaty have been suggested by both sides in the past. The fact remains that distrust caused by persistence of problems and disputes have prevented these ideas from becoming a reality. This further underscores the need for meaningful dialogue to address problems especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

There is no doubt that progress towards the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute along with improved environment through interaction among Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control will greatly help the process of normalization of relations between Pakistan and India. Eventually the peace process must lead to the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which would usher in an era of good neighbourly relations between the two countries. That environment would also be conducive to the conclusion of a treaty of friendship.

The Indian Prime Minister's speech encourages us to believe that the peace process will be strengthened and enter a new important phase.

QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION

- Asked how many people from both sides of Kashmir had crossed over the five opening points along the Line of Control since their opening, the Spokesperson said:

Some people crossed within a month or two of the earthquake. They had been cleared by the IOK authorities for travel by Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service. Of the list that was submitted specifically for the five points, to date, we have not received a single clearance. We, therefore, hope now that the Indian Prime Minister has publicly supported the greater interaction between Kashmiris from the two sides of the Line of Control, we would see some immediate movement on this account.

- Asked about Pakistan 's position on the Indian Prime Minster's assertion that progress on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir had to be de-linked from progress on other issues, the Spokesperson said:

I have already responded to that. For your benefit, I will repeat it again. We believe such a de-linking is realistically not possible. If that approach were workable, we would have been able to establish better relations between Pakistan and India in the past without addressing the Kashmir dispute. It would have happened in the last fifty-nine years. The mere fact that wars between Pakistan and India have been fought over Kashmir and the fact that we have an unfortunate history of distrust and hostility prove that de-linking is not realistic. Jammu and Kashmir dispute lies at the heart of problems between the two countries. Therefore, it would be unrealistic to expect that by putting the Jammu and Kashmir dispute aside, we can move forward.

- Asked whether Pakistan was going to grant MFN status to India as had been suggested by media, the Spokesperson said:

We have seen reports that in the talks currently underway, the Indian side would be asking for MFN status. India has given MFN status to Pakistan . But this has not had any impact on the balance of trade between our two countries which is heavily tilted in India 's favour. Because of that we have said repeatedly that we would like to see a level-playing field before we proceed on the MFN issue. By this we mean removal of tariffs, para-tariffs and non-tariff barriers that have been imposed by the Indian side. Some progress in the Composite Dialogue would also be helpful in this regard.

- When her comments were sought on the Indian Prime Minister's statement about the resolution of the issues of Siachen, Sir Creek and Baglihar, the Spokesperson said:

The Indian Prime Minister's reference that it is possible to come to a meaningful agreement on Siachen, Sir Creek and Baglihar has led to a flurry of speculations. There are all kinds of stories, most of which are product of fertile minds. We also believe that Siachen and Sir Creek are resolvable and that the two sides should make a determined effort. This sentiment is reflected in various statements including the joint statements of 18 April, 4 October 2005 and January 2005. On Sir Creek there is already an agreement on joint survey as reflected in the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the 2 nd round of Composite Dialogue. However, modalities have yet to be worked out since the technical discussions held in December proved to be inconclusive. These issues will be discussed at length when the Defence Secretaries of the two countries meet in May (23-24 Siachen and 25-26 Sir Creek). Baglihar issue is already before the neutral expert and the two countries are in contact with him according to the agreed procedures. The next meeting is expected to take place in May.

- Asked about an update on the probe conducted into the killing of Pakistanis inside Afghanistan , the Spokesperson said:

We have been told by the Afghan authorities that they are investigating the incident. We do hope that we will hear something from them. There is no update on that as yet.

- Asked to compare Indian Prime Minister's recently propounded treaty of Friendship, peace and security between Pakistan and India to the non-aggression pact between the two countries, offered by Pakistan earlier, the Spokesperson said:

I have already given a very comprehensive response. We have not been given any formal proposal. The Indian Prime Minister talked about it in a speech. We do not have any elements of what the Indian Government has in mind as far as the treaty of friendship, peace and security is concerned. We therefore have no basis to make a comparison with the earlier proposal. We have had discussions in the past on the non-aggression pact and the treaty of friendship. In June 1982, Pakistan proposed a non-aggression pact to India . In response, in August 1982, India offered a treaty of friendship and cooperation. These two ideas were discussed. Later on, there were also efforts to merge the two. At the moment, we do not have any text to compare it with what has been discussed earlier.

- Asked, by supporting the proposals of autonomy and self-government in Kashmir , if Pakistan was not turning its back on the UNSC's resolutions on the issue, the Spokesperson said:

We have repeatedly said that when we talk about Kashmiris' involvement in the peace process for resolution of the Kashmir dispute, when we say that the solution of the Kashmir dispute must be acceptable to all the three stake-holders, it is in line with the spirit of the UNSC resolutions. We do not have to repeat our principled and legal position every time; that is understood.

- Asked what objectives Kabul wanted to achieve by killing the innocent Pakistanis who had legal travel documents, the Spokesperson said:

We do not know who was involved in the killing. There are various reports. We are awaiting the Afghan Government's report.

- Asked, with reference to her response to an earlier question, whether Pakistan's position on the issue of granting MFN status to India would really lead to any progress in the forthcoming talks on the issue between Pakistan India, the Spokesperson said:

First and foremost, there has to be a level-playing field. The trade balance is heavily in India 's favour. There tariff, para-tariff and non-tariff barriers. The grant of MFN status to Pakistan by India has practically made no difference to the balance of trade between the two countries because these trade barriers are still intact.

- Asked should Pakistan cooperate with Afghanistan on counter-terrorism, and why Pakistan should not expel all the Afghan refugees especially when the Afghans are killing Pakistanis in return for Pakistan 's cooperation, the Spokesperson said:

We should not sound as if we are doing a favour to Afghanistan . It is in our interest as it is in the interest of Afghanistan to have good relations with Pakistan . We have historical, cultural, ethnic and religious ties with the people of Afghanistan , and we want to build on these ties. Secondly, about the Afghan refugees, we have repeatedly said that we would like to see the refugees return to Afghanistan with dignity and in conditions of peace and security.

- Asked to further elaborate the concepts of ‘autonomy' and ‘self-government' in the context of Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Spokesperson said:

The President has elaborated these concepts a number of times. There is not much that I can add to that.

- In response to a question about the cancellation of valid visas by the Swiss Embassy and the tampering with Pakistani passports reportedly by a Pakistani national of the Swiss Embassy, the Spokesperson said:

A lot has been written about this. I am afraid all that appears in the press is not completely based on facts. It is not just the Swiss Embassy; some other European Embassies also maintain that they canceled their visas as a result of their judgment that these passports were tampered with. If there are problems with the Pakistani employee of the Swiss Embassy, the Pakistani complainants are free to go to courts, because he is the Pakistani national. He has no immunity; he is governed by Pakistani law, and courts should be able to provide relief to these people.

- Asked about the schedule of the visit to Pakistan by the Saudi Crown Prince, the Spokesperson said:

At the moment, I can only confirm that the visit is on the cards. The exact dates and agenda for the visit will be finalized in due course. Once that is done, we will let you know.

- Asked to confirm reports that Prime Minster Manmohan Singh was to visit Pakistan , and whether his recent speech had not reinvigorated the peace process between Pakistan and India , the Spokesperson said:

I have seen reports in the media emanating from New Delhi that Prime Minster Manmohan Singh may visit Pakistan in July this year. We have received no such indication.

Secondly, we have already said that there are many positive elements in his speech and we do hope that this would give impetus to the peace process.