Former CBI official's disclosure: We've sought explanation from New Delhi: FO

Pakistan on Friday said that it has sought an explanation from New Delhi about the revelations by a former officer of Indian home ministry alleging incumbent Indian governments of "orchestrating" the 2001 terror attack on parliament and 2008 Mumbai carnage.
In his weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said that Islamabad had asked its High Commission in New Delhi to approach the Indian government and ascertain the veracity of these reports and clarification of the Indian government on this matter.
In its preliminary response, he said that the Indian government has denied the said official had made any such statement. However, he said that Pakistan was still in the process of getting full information on this matter and would ask India to give more details in this regard.
The spokesman said that Pakistan had expressed its deep concern over the killing of more than six people and injuring scores of others in Indian Occupied Kashmir as a result of violence that occurred following the reported man-handling of an Imam and desecration of the Holy Quran by BSF officials.
"Such acts incite violence and hurt the sentiments of Muslims not only in Pakistan, but all over the world. The Government of Pakistan calls for a thorough and proper investigation to be carried out expeditiously and those responsible for this act to be brought to justice," he said. He said that they had noted the comments of the Indian leadership to carry out an investigation into the incident. To a question, he said that Pakistan wanted the resumption of composite dialogue with India, which can help improve bilateral relations between the two countries. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had expressed his desire for good neighbourly relations with India.
"We hope that the two countries would be able to overcome the mistrust that tends to undermine co-operation," he said, adding a number of CBMs are in place which needs to be implemented. He said that the back channel diplomacy can also contribute to addressing the mistrust.
On the start of back door channels with India‚ he said the designated ambassador for track-II diplomacy with Indian Shahryar Khan recently visited New Delhi and expressed the strong desire of Pakistani leadership for having good neighbourly relations. The spokesman also announced that visit of Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz to Afghanistan has been scheduled for Sunday which is convenient for both sides. A senior official of the Ministry will accompany the Advisor, he added. He said that it was the first high-level exchange between the two countries after the assumption of office by the present government and the leaders of the two countries had already spoken twice to each other.
He said that the Prime Minister had extended an invitation to the President Karzai and Aziz would be carrying the formal invitation for the visit. He said that other objective of the visit was to hold substantive preparations for the Summit-level meeting. "We attach high importance to our bilateral relations with Afghanistan, which would be reviewed during the visit. Pakistan and Afghanistan have a multifaceted relationship," he said.
About the Doha talks, he said that Pakistan had supported the Doha process and would remain supportive of it as part of the larger reconciliation process in Afghanistan. "Pakistan believes that all stakeholders in Afghanistan should engage in an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process... our conviction is that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan will be an effective way to secure lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the whole region," he added.
About the recent visit of British Foreign Secretary William Hague, he said that the visiting dignitary held in-depth discussions with the Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, met the Interior Minister, and called on the Prime Minister.
He said that considerable part of the discussions was focused on bilateral co-operation, adding that Pakistan has historical, economic, commercial, cultural, education, and defence ties with the UK. "The two sides reviewed the progress made in deepening our bilateral ties. Views were also exchanged on the regional situation," he added. When asked whether Pakistan plans to review its policy on drone, the spokesman said that Islamabad's policy on drone strikes was very clear and the present government has taken up this matter in strong and clear terms with the US.
"This subject is being raised with the US side at appropriate levels. Drone strikes are counter-productive, violate our national sovereignty and international law, and entail human rights and humanitarian implications," he said, adding there is also a growing debate in international forums on the legality of drone strikes.
Responding to a query, he said that Pakistan has noted the reports of Pakistani Taliban fighters moving to Syria, adding it has been the policy of the government of Pakistan not to interfere in the internal affairs of other states. "Our authorities are looking at the reports and if any elements or instances come to our notice, appropriate action would be taken in the light of our aforesaid policy," he added. To another question regarding sentencing a Jamaat-i-Islami leader in Bangladesh, the spokesman said that while Pakistan did not interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, but it had also noted that concerns were being raised by human rights organisations and international legal community on this matter.