The government has not eased restrictions on nuclear scientist Dr A Q Khan, imposed three and-a-half years ago, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said here on Monday.
When asked at her weekly news briefing at the Foreign Office whether the government had lifted any restrictions on Dr A Q Khan following US government announcement that his network had been broken, she said.
"There is no change in his status. He continues to lead a quiet life with his family." When told that he had met some of his friends recently, the spokesperson said: "He meets his friends; he talks to people; and it has been happening even before publication of this news report."
She denied that the United States, or the International Atomic Energy Agency, had approached Pakistan to directly interrogate Dr Khan about his network. Asked whether Pakistan and the United States were co-operating in 'nuclear safeguards', Tasnim said: "There are some IAEA provisions under which safeguard co-operation with other countries takes place."
However, she added: "If we are offered any co-operation it would not involve Pakistan's nuclear weapon facility. It has to be consistent with Pakistan's sovereignty and security; it has to be non-intrusive."
She said that Pakistan was open to multilateral and bilateral co-operation which could enhance its own ability to reinforce security of its facility and induction of new technology, and added that "these are the parameters within which we can engage with the United States and other countries".
RETURN OF AFGHAN REFUGEES She said that the government has decided that four Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan would be evacuated and the refugees would be sent back to Afghanistan, since Afghan Taliban are suspected to have taken refuge in these camps to launch their activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan from these hideouts.
At the same time, she said, Pakistan has emphasised that repatriation of the Afghan refugees should be sustainable and they should be provided sufficient funds and security environment so that they could permanently settle in their own country.
PAKISTAN - INDIA INTERIOR SECRETARIES MEETING The Foreign Office spokesperson said that the forthcoming meeting of Interior Secretaries of Pakistan and India was part of the fourth round of Composite Dialogue to normalise relations and solve the outstanding problems.
The Secretaries will discuss counter-terrorism, narcotics, drug trafficking, human trafficking, exchange of prisoners and fishermen. The two Secretaries will also discuss draft of an agreement for a liberalised visa regime to promote people-to-people contact, and trade and tourism.
She said that Pakistan has reports that India is planning new hydel projects on Chenab, but under the Indus Basin Treaty if any activity is to be undertaken on run-of-the-river, India is required to inform Pakistan six months before any such project is contemplated, to hold bilateral discussion.
In reply to a question, she said that Pakistan has declared the so-called Balochistan Liberation Army as a terrorist organisation, and the British government has also declared BLA as a terrorist organisation. "There are Interpol Red Warrants for some members belonging to that banned organisation," she added.
The spokesperson said that though Pakistan has not sought internal help for relief of the flood affected people, yet a number of countries, particularly UN agencies, have approached Pakistan to participate in relief efforts.
She said that a meeting was currently being held in Islamabad, after which these countries and UN agencies would be informed about the kind of help or medicines, which are needed for the people hit by heavy rains and floods.
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