Pakistan on Thursday lodged a protest with the US against continuing drone attacks inside it's the tribal territory, terming these attacks a clear violation of the international law and the country's sovereignty. In a statement, Foreign Office's spokesperson Moazzam Ahmad Khan said that a protest was lodged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the US Embassy in Islamabad on drone strikes inside Pakistani territory on October 10-11.
"The Embassy was informed that drone strikes on Pakistani territory were a clear violation of international law and Pakistan's sovereignty. These attacks were unacceptable to Pakistan," the statement said. Earlier, responding to media persons' queries during the weekly press briefing, the spokesperson said that the Foreign Office had so far received no directives from the government regarding the letter to the Swiss authorities for opening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. The Foreign Office spokesperson said that he was unaware if the letter the government was planning to write the letter.
Regarding third country mediation, including Russia, to resolve outstanding issues such as the Kashmir dispute, with India, the spokesperson said that Islamabad and New Delhi were capable of resolving outstanding issues bilaterally. However, he said that any help in this regard from friendly countries such as Russia, the US and China would be welcomed.
When asked about Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's assertion regarding the Kashmir issue‚ he said Pakistan had a clear position on the issue, adding that President Zardari, in his address to the UN General Assembly, had also raised the issue and referred to the UN's failure to address the issue.
About the Russian Foreign Minister's visit to Islamabad‚ the spokesperson said that the talks during his visit remained productive. He pointed out that recently relations between the two countries witnessed a change, adding that Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani also recently visited Moscow and held constructive talks with the military establishment of the Russin Federation.
"There is desire on both sides to take forward the mutual relationship," he maintained. Responding to a question about new dates for the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin‚ he said no date had yet been finalised. He said that the Russian President in a letter to President Zardari had expressed his keenness to have a summit level meeting soon.
The spokesperson also said that President Zardari would pay a two-day visit to Azerbaijan on October 15-16 to attend the Economic Co-operation Organisation Summit. The Prime Minister, he said, would also visit Kuwait to attend the Asia Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) in coming days.
Referring to tensions between Syria and Turkey‚ he said that Pakistan had condemned the Syrian shelling into Turkey's territory and also hoped that Damascus took action to avert such incidents in future. He said that Pakistan wanted a peaceful resolution of the Syrian issue without any coercive measures.
When asked whether the appointment of a US General as the new Nato Commander in Afghanistan will help reduce cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan, he said Pakistan had time and again raised the issue with the Afghan authorities and Isaf. However, he was pessimistic that the new appointment would make any major difference, adding that it all depended on the policies of respective countries.
About the international community's response on the terror attack on Malala Yousafzai‚ he said different countries, including the United States, had condemned the reprehensible act, adding that the attack was an attack on Pakistan's future. He, however, declined to speculate about assailants. About the attacks on Pakistani communities in Greece, the spokesman said that Pakistan consulate in Greece was in contact with the Greek authorities on the issue. About the expected visits of Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul and Chief of Afghan Council, the spokesperson said invitations had been forwarded, but the dates for their visits had yet not been finalised.
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