Press Briefing by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman held on December 05

Islamabad, December 05, 2013 (PPI-OT):

(2013-12-05) [This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated]

There are no opening remarks. The floor is open for Questions

Question
EU states are composed of the NATO and Pakistan happens to get GSP plus status this month. Expectedly, Pakistan would be given the voting required for the GSP Plus status. How do you review the situation in KP where the KP government has blocked the NATO supplies? Will Pakistan suffer for this?

Secondly, what exactly is the policy of the government of Pakistan on NATO supplies?

Answer
As for your first question, it belongs to the realm of the Ministry of Interior.

As for your second question, we have seen reports that the US has suspended the NATO supplies through Torkham for security of transporters. The government has continued the arrangement for passage of NATO supplies in order to facilitate draw down of NATO forces from Afghanistan.

The government of Pakistan has consistently called for an end to drone strikes and has taken up this matter at the highest level with the United States and has also taken it up at United Nations. The government believes that all aspects related to these issues need to be settled peacefully and through talks.

Question
James Dobbins visited Pakistan a day before. Did he discuss the blockade of NATO supplies with Pakistani authorities? What other issues came under discussion?

Secondly, did the US Government intimate the suspension of NATO supplies to Pakistan?

Answer
Discussions during the visit of Mr. James Dobbins focused on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and bilateral relations between Pakistan and the US.

As for your second question, the US has issued a statement in this regard.

Question
Regarding the meeting with James Dobbins ,we came to know that Adviser Sartaj Aziz has reiterated Pakistan’s stance on drone strikes as being counter-productive for Pakistan’s and regional security. Do you think the suspension of NATO supplies at the Torkham border was in response to Pakistan’s stance on drones?

Answer
Pakistan has taken a consistent stance against the drone strikes and that has been voiced at every level of contact with the US government. It was discussed with Mr. Dobbins as well. As for the decision of the US government to suspend the NATO supplies through Torkham, I have already stated our position.

Question
You said that the government believes in settling all the issues through talks, does this mean that the Federal Government will take some action against the government of KP to ensure smooth NATO supplies?

Answer
It is not my purview to answer this question.

Question
According to a statement coming from the Prime Minster House, war should not be an option with India. Keeping that in mind how optimistic are you regarding the situation in Kashmir?

Answer
On the Kashmir issue Pakistan’s position is well known. The present government has also extended its full support to the Kashmir cause. We believe that the Kashmir issue should be resolved peacefully through talks based on UN Security Council resolutions. We have always urged the Indian government to engage with us in meaningful and substantive talks to resolve this long standing dispute.

We further believe that the Kashmiri leadership should be associated with the dialogue process. Having said that, I would like to add that the present government wishes to have improved relations with India. We believe that all issues between the two countries should be resolved through bilateral talks. Improved good-neighborly relations between the two countries are an imperative for economic development of the region.

Question
There are media reports that a senior JKLF leader was thrown out of a hotel in New Delhi and you must be aware of the treatment meted out to the Kashmiri leadership by the Indian authorities in general. What are your comments?

Answer
We believe that human rights of the Kashmiri people living in the Indian occupied Kashmir must be respected.

Question
There are reports that India is constructing a wall on LoC. Can you confirm this? If yes, what is your reaction?

Answer
We have seen these media reports. There is an understanding that there should be no major construction within 500 meters on either side of the LoC. We believe this understanding must be respected.

Question
After the passage of 18th Amendment, Foreign Affairs are still under the purview of Federal Government. Do you think it is constitutionally correct that one province out of four takes a decision that effects the Foreign Policy?

Answer
This question is beyond my purview.

Question
The Indian Prime Minister has said that in his life Pakistan cannot win a war against India. What are your comments?

Answer
We believe that Pakistan and India need to address the mistrust that exists between the two countries. Pakistan is committed to a meaningful dialogue as we believe that it is the best way to resolve issues and misunderstandings and improve bilateral relations.

Question
There are suggestions by different people that there is a need for a new Indus Basin Treaty because of the damage done to Pakistan on glaciers. Has there been any thinking on that?

Answer
We believe Indus Waters Treaty must be respected in letter and spirit.

Question
Yesterday Sartaj Aziz said that the Indian troops must pull out from Siachen Glacier. There was also a statement issued from Prime Minister’s office that he has a dream of seeing Indian-held Kashmir free. Is there any change in Pakistan’s stance?

Secondly, how can the Prime Minister of a nuclear country and the largest democracy react so harshly to a misquoted statement of the Prime Minster of Pakistan?

Answer
In the statement attributed to Mr. Sartaj Aziz, comments were made on the environmental dimension of the Siachen issue. Our position on Siachen issue is well-known. We believe that there should be disengagement of forces and demilitarization of the area and the issue needs to be resolved through talks. On Kashmir issue, I have already stated our position in response to an earlier question.

As for the second question, you are right the Prime Minister’s statement was misquoted.

Question
In a recent meeting of Prime Minister with President Karzai, it was agreed to open a Taliban office in Saudi Arabia or Turkey. There was a suggestion by President Karzai that Pakistan should also host a Taliban office. How do you see that?

Answer
These are only media reports.

Question
There were reports that KP police is sending a questionnaire to the Foreign Office to convey it to CIA and the US Embassy regarding the Hangu drone strike. Has the Foreign Office received any questionnaire?

Answer
I don’t think that we have received any such questionnaire.

Question
There are reports that more Taliban have been released by Pakistan. Who are they and what is the total number of Afghan Taliban released by Pakistan today?

Answer
We have been releasing the Taliban detainees from time to time at the request of Afghan government with the purpose of facilitating peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. I don’t have the exact number but this is an ongoing process to facilitate reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Question
Mr. Sartaj Aziz said that members of Afghan High Peace Council met with Mullah Bradar. What was the outcome of the meeting? Is it positive? Are the talks with Taliban going in the right direction?

Answer
I do not have information on the outcome of the meeting.

Question
Has Pakistan received any displeasure from the European Union on the blockade of NATO supplies?

Answer
No.

Question
You have said that Pakistan believes in disengagement and demilitarization on the Siachen issue. Mr.Sartaj Aziz has also indicated that perhaps India is not responsive to Pakistan’s overtures on Siachen issue. What are your comments?

Secondly, the Prime Minister’s statement that he wants to see Indian Held Kashmir free was very clear. Don’t you think that it goes against the earlier position of Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue through talks? What is your reaction to this?

Answer
Our position on Siachen issue is clear. We hope that India and Pakistan engage in a meaningful dialogue as part of Composite Dialogue to resolve this issue.

On Kashmir issue, our position has been clear and consistent. Pakistan has always extended moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people, and we would like to see a peaceful resolution of the issue based on UN Security Council resolutions. At the same time, our leadership has expressed the desire to have peaceful and good neighborly relations with India. The resolution of the Kashmir issue would help achieve that broader objective.

Question
As per the announcement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, they are briefing European Union and NATO diplomats tonight. Since the Foreign Policy is the domain of the Federal Government. Do you think the decision of one political party to meet the diplomats directly violates the purview of the Foreign Office? Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have objections to that?

Answer
This question is beyond my purview.

Question
Do you have something in mind to revisit the aged Foreign Policy which is not working at all, especially with regard to the drone strikes?

Answer
The issue of drone strikes has been discussed at length. The Government has taken up the issue bilaterally with United States and also raised it at the international fora. We believe the approach that our government is pursuing is quite effective. There is an emerging world opinion questioning the legitimacy and usefulness of drone strikes.

Question
There are reports that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be visiting Turkey somewhere in December where he will participate in a trilateral meeting between Pakistani, Turkish and Afghan leadership. Do you have dates for this visit? If yes please intimate?

Secondly, when the PML-N government took over, specific tasks were given to Pakistan’s Missions abroad and there was a detailed circular as well. Has there been a review meeting? How far have these tasks been achieved? What is the progress?

Answer
I don’t have the dates for the trilateral meeting.
As for the tasks assigned to our Missions abroad, the performance of the Missions is constantly evaluated in the light of the guidance provided by the leadership.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Ch
Spokesman
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Pakistan
Tell: 051-9205494
Fax: 051-9204202
Cell: 0336-5644459