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Spokesperson Briefings

Date: 20/11/2006

RECORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESPERSON ON 20 NOVEMBER 2006

Opening Statement

His Excellency Mr. Hu Jintao, the President of the People's Republic of China will visit Pakistan on 23-26 November. He will be accompanied by Madam Hu and a high powered delegation. This visit would be a culminating point of President' Hu Jintao's visit to three countries. The visit would also be the high point in the series of commemorative events related to the 55 th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the People's Republic of China . During his visit, President Hu Jintao will hold discussions with the President of Pakistan. He will have an interaction with the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He will also meet the Chairman Senate and the Speaker of the National Assembly. President Hu Jintao will address the people of Pakistan . He will also meet Pakistani students and representatives of industries and commercial enterprises. The Chinese President will visit Lahore as well. A number of agreements, both in the public and private sector are expected to be signed during the visit. These agreements would further strengthen the economic, social, cultural, and trade relations between the two countries. It will also pave the way for Chinese investment in Pakistan .

There was a query yesterday about the amount of British development assistance to Pakistan . The response is that the amount is 480 million pounds (about US $ 900 million) is for three years. This is a government to government grant and will not be disbursed through NGOs.

Question/Answer Session

When her comments were sought on the media reports that during the Chinese President's forthcoming visit to Pakistan , there would be an agreement between the two countries for the supply of Chinese power plants in order to augment Pakistan in the field of civilian nuclear technology, the spokesperson said:

These reports in the media are speculative. I think I have clarified our position quite a number of times. Cooperation between Pakistan and People's Republic of China is longstanding. However, reports about the signing of an agreement on supply of a certain number of power plants are all speculative.

Asked what Pakistan believed the purpose of consistent assertions that Pakistan was to do more to check infiltration into Afghanistan , the Spokesperson said:

I cannot speak for NATO or the Member States of that organization. It needs to be understood that that Taliban are Afghans. They are not easily distinguishable from other Afghans unlike Arabs and Central Asians. The problem in Afghanistan can only be resolved inside Afghanistan . Pakistan is doing all it can to help. Apart from our well known steps which include deployment of forces on the border and check points, we have made a number of proposals including fencing and selective mining of the border. Pakistan has established 97 check points as compared to the 24 established by the Afghanistan on its side of the border which are not properly manned.

Everyone agrees that military approach alone would not resolve the problem in Afghanistan . It must be combined with political and economic approach. The international community must encourage national conciliation. And as the President has said there should be a Marshall plan for South and Southeast Afghanistan in addition to what is being done for the rest of Afghanistan 's economic rehabilitation.

Asked about Pakistan 's position regarding suggestions by some of the members of the Nuclear Supplier Group that Pakistan should sign the IAEA additional protocol, the Spokesperson said:

The matter of signing the additional protocol has been under consideration for some time. However no decision has been taken on this matter. Pakistan is not a member of the NPT and it is a nuclear power. These facts would have to be taken into account in any consideration or discussions on signing the additional protocol.

Asked about an update on opening offices of the Consulates-General in Karachi and Mumbai, the Spokesperson said:

The subject was discussed during the recent meeting between the Foreign Secretaries, and both sides agreed that the two Consulates-General should open as soon as possible. The problem, however, is that we have still not found a place in Mumbai and the two Consulates-General are to open simultaneously.

When her comments were sought on the statement by the US Under-Secretary of State that the US would not sign civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with any country, including Pakistan , as it had done with India , the Spokesperson said:

Our position on this subject is very clear. We have articulated our position a number of times publicly as well as during our discussions with the US and other interlocutors. We have our energy requirements, and nuclear energy is part of our national energy security plan. We intend to meet our requirements. We will continue to seek cooperation in this sector from various countries, including the US .

When her attention was drawn to the reported statement made in New Delhi by the Afghan President Hamid Karzai that Indian workers were facing difficulties in Afghanistan on account of cross border activities, the Spokesperson said:

My response to an earlier question also takes care of your question. The security problem inside Afghanistan is essentially an Afghan problem. I am not aware of this particular statement that you have referred to. But any insinuation that somehow Pakistan was responsible for the security situation is Afghanistan is a baseless assertion and we reject it.

Asked whether the Chinese President would visit Gwader during his forthcoming visit to Pakistan , the Spokesperson said:

I am not going to discuss the details of his programme, but as and when the visit starts, we will share with you the various activities that would be part of his programme.

Asked what steps had been taken for ensuring the safe return of the Afghan refugees to their homeland, the Spokesperson said.

We have said that Afghan refugees should return. We have been emphasizing that to the international community. We have also been emphasizing that conditions need to be created inside Afghanistan , so that these refugees can go back in security, and they are able to establish their life inside Afghanistan .

When her comments were sought on some paranoid statements emanating from the US and the UK suggesting that if Islamic extremism was not checked there was a risk of a third world war, the Spokesperson said:

Everyone accepts that there are challenges. I would not say that these are solely owing to the so-called Islamic terrorism or fanaticism. There is extremism and fanaticism in every religion. Paradoxically no religion propagates extremism or intolerance. Essentially the core message of every religion is that of peace. There are many problems and challenges. We have repeatedly said that these challenges cannot be addressed solely through military action. We need to have a comprehensive approach which includes addressing the root-causes of terrorism and violence in the world, and unless the world is ready to do that, we would continue to face these problems.