Record of Press briefing by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson held on 11th September 2014

Islamabad, September 11, 2014 (PPI-OT):

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

Question

A recent report in the US Congress says that sanctions may be imposed on Pakistan in case Mr. Nawaz Sharif’s government is removed through a military coup. I want your evaluation?

Answer

It is speculative.

Question

Prime Minister of Pakistan in his letter to Prime Minister of India has sought cooperation in disaster management. If you recall, few years back the then Foreign Secretary, Mr. Salman Bashir had also given a white paper to India on this cooperation. Has this been forwarded to India as a formal proposal or is it still in some stage of formation?

Answer

There is a background to that letter. Our Prime Minister in his response to the Indian Prime minister’s letter underlined the need for cooperation in not only facing the natural calamities, but also the underlying issues that impact our climate and environment. You would recall that earlier we had offered assistance to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in IoK which has been very badly affected by floods.

Question

Today, there were Indian media reports that they have arrested a Sri Lankan national who was allegedly spying for Pakistan. How would you comment on this latest trend where Indians implicate nationals of Pakistan friendly countries in certain terrorist and spying activities?

Answer

This may be the recycling of a month old report claiming that some Sri Lankans were being used by Pakistani agencies to spy and to incite terrorism inside India. You must have seen a statement that came from Sri Lanka that no such thing ever happened. I would put this report in the same category.

Question

President Obama has announced air strikes on Syria. What is Pakistan’s stance on this development?

Answer

I don’t have any comment on this. But there is a specific context to that: ISIS. I am sure you must be following the activities of this organization in the Middle East.

Question

Advisor to Prime Minister Mr. Sartaj Aziz was a member of the Atlantic council, a think tank which has been working on water disputes in Pakistan. Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, former Foreign Minister is also a member. This Council has recommended that Pakistan and India should talk about the water and dams that India is building on our common rivers and the possibility of importing electricity from India. How do you comment on this?

Answer

Yes, water issues are very important, needing discussions between Pakistan and India. We have the Indus Waters Treaty according to which water is distributed between the two countries. As the lower riparian, we have certain rights.

There are number of studies that have pointed out the environmental degradation as a result of military activity in Siachen. There have been a number of suggestions and some of them were taken on board by Pakistan. But even without calls from think tanks and NGOs, we know these issues need to be addressed between Pakistan and India.

Mr. Sartaj Aziz and Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar are members of the Atlantic Council in their individual capacity and not as Foreign Ministers.

Question

I would like to ask about a Pakistani who went missing in Dubai about four months ago. The Islamabad High Court had issued a directive to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this. Could you please share with us his status?

Answer

There are two different cases that we are dealing with; I am not sure which one you are talking about. One was the case of a Pakistani who was to be extradited to Pakistan from UAE. He was also under trial there. The UAE government informed us that till the court proceedings against him were concluded, he could not be sent back. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the worthy court.

There was another case of a Pakistani who went missing and his parents approached us. Before the Honorable court took notice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was already working on it. His parents were also kept in the loop.

Question

Could you please provide us some more details about the Pakistani delegation participating in SCO, Dushanbe? Who heads the delegation?

Answer

The Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz is leading the Pakistani delegation.

Question

French Embassy in Islamabad plans to build a wall around its premises for additional security. In the past they were not allowed to do so by CDA. However, recently it has been learnt that taking pretext of the protest demonstrations in the red zone, they have started building the wall. Could you please confirm these reports?

Answer

Let me check this with our Protocol Division. We have repeatedly said that ensuring the safety and protection of the diplomatic corps is our responsibility and we take it very seriously. No protest has taken place in or around the diplomatic enclave.

Question

There were reports about a Pakistani Golf team who were on a visit to IoK and got stranded in the floods. They were reportedly rescued by the Indian Army. What is the current status? Can you confirm they were rescued by the Indian Army?

Answer

We first came to know about the Golfers when they contacted the High Commission in New Delhi that they were stranded. They are still there and are safe. They are in contact with our High Commission and will be evacuated as soon as the means of transportation are available.

Question

Has Pakistan been asked by the US for any help against ISIS? What is our official stance?

Answer

We have a very clear stance. We are against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Our Armed Forces have launched a very comprehensive operation against all terrorists. We are determined to take action without any discrimination.

Question

Has there been any response from international community on dharna politics. If yes, would you like to share it? Also there were reports that Turkish Prime Minister called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif regarding this.

Answer

This is an internal matter. The leadership of Pakistan and Turkey maintain regular contacts.

Question

Couple of weeks ago, ISIS distributed pamphlets in outskirts of Peshawar particularly close to afghan refugee camps. Can you confirm their presence?

Answer

This question was asked last week and I responded to it. You may like to see the details on our website.

Question

Couple of days back, Iran claimed to have arrested one Pakistani and one Afghani who were travelling to work with ISIS in the ongoing fight in Syria. Has Iran shared any information with Pakistan?

Answer

We did see media reports carried by Iranian media quoting their Interior Minister that a Pakistani and Afghan national were intercepted. Our Embassy in Tehran has contacted the Iranian Foreign Ministry to ascertain the veracity of these media reports and to seek any further information they have.

Question

Imran khan, Chairman Tehrik-e-Insaf recently accused that the much talked about 34 billion dollar was not investment but loan by the Chinese government. How would you comment on that?

Answer

I think the Government has already responded to that. I have repeatedly requested you not to bring statements by political leaders to this forum. We don’t comment on them.

Question

Do we have any agreement for the transfer of prisoners with UAE? If yes, how many prisoners have been transferred?

Answer

I will have to check the details.

Question

Has Pakistan received any assistance for flood affectees from international community?

Answer

We have not launched an appeal for international assistance but our missions have been asked to open an account – the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2014.These accounts would be accepting funds from Pakistanis and international sources.

Question

You said that Advisor to the Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz is already in Dushanbe. There were reports that some of agreements which were to be signed between Pakistan and China during the postponed visit of the Chinese President may be signed abroad. Is any agreement going to be signed at Dushanbe?

Answer

We clarified that the visit of the Chinese President has been postponed not cancelled, there is a difference. It was clarified both in Islamabad and Beijing that through diplomatic channels new dates for the rescheduling of the visit would be worked out. I don’t have specific information that any agreements between Pakistan and China would be signed in a third country.

Question

Some Pakistani religious clerics have been talking to media saying that the recent attacks in Karachi show that there are some foot prints of ISIS in Pakistan and that they want to target Pakistan after Syria and Iraq. Your comments on that?

Answer

I have not seen these statements. We are taking actions against all terrorists without discrimination. As regards the statements you have referred to, I do not have any information. No government source has confirmed it.

Question

Who will be representing Pakistan in UNGA? Has the decision been made?

Answer

When a decision is made, we will make an announcement like we always do.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Ch
Spokesman
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Pakistan
Tell: +92-51-9205494
Fax: +92-51-9204202
Cell: +92-336-5644459