Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Friday said that some Baloch separatist leaders are playing in the hands of 'others' and the matter is being raised with their host countries, including the UK.
He made these remarks while briefing Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel, regarding Army Chief General Raheel Sharif's recent visit to the UK where he is said to have taken up activities of the Baloch separatist elements and Hizbul Tahrir with British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told the panel that the Foreign Office had given its input to the Army Chief prior to his UK visit, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in close contact with all security agencies and other state institutions. "The Foreign Office does give its input whoever visits abroad and input was also given to the Army Chief for his recent visit to the UK and earlier to Afghanistan," he said.
The Foreign Secretary also contradicted the opinion of chairman of the committee Haji Adeel for describing the estranged elements as Baloch nationalists. "They are not nationalists; rather they are miscreants playing in the hands of enemies to destabilise Pakistan," Aizaz Chaudhry said, adding that the government had solid evidence of involvement of some countries in the Balochistan unrest.
He said the evidence was also handed over to the then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh by the then Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during a meeting at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt in July 2009. Responding to various queries raised by committee members, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that there are people who have set-up their network abroad and propagating for "independence of Balochistan" and the government is taking up the matter with the concerned countries.
"The federal as well as provincial government of Balochistan is also making political efforts to resolve the matter, but we can't just become a silent spectator over the anti-state activities of the Baloch separatists," Aziz added. Committee member Mushahid Hussain Syed pointed out that there is difference between nationalists and the separatists and there are forces that are playing in the hands of our enemies.
To another query, Foreign Secretary said that the Balochistan government was fully on board over the move to take the issue with the British government. Later, the committee through a unanimous resolution condemned the sacrilegious caricature in a French publication and the copy of the resolution was also sent to the Foreign Office so that it could be dispatched to the foreign embassies, including the French Embassy.
The resolution stated, "The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, representing the sentiments of the Pakistanis people and all civilised humanity strongly condemns the wilful slander and insults hurled in a section of the French media towards Islam and the core beliefs of all Muslims. Such an approach reflects hypocrisy and double standards among some in the West who justify this provocation in the name of 'freedom', while jailing those who deny the Holocaust. The committee welcomes the statement of Pope Francis-II who also condemned the provocation. The Foreign Affairs Committee urges the government to take up the issue with the European in Brussels, and criminalize Islamophobia in a manner similar to the laws regarding the Holocaust."
The Committee discussed in detail the visits of the Prime Minister to China, Germany and the UK, Afghan President's visit to Pakistan and the outcome of the SAARC conference held in Nepal. Senator Haji Adeel asked the Adviser about the reasons of postponement of the visit by Chinese President, adding the Pak-China Economic corridor is highly important for both countries. However, he stated that there were reports in the press about some modifications in the original design of the Pak-China Economic corridor.
Members of the Committee were of the view that the matter strictly relates to Planning Commission so it would be appropriate to get a detailed briefing from the commission on Pak-China Economic Corridor and recent developments in this regard. The Foreign Secretary informed the committee that the visit of the Chinese President was postponed due to sits-ins. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his China visit signed important pacts and MoUs.
He said that China is an important country for Pakistan and the visit of the Prime Minister gave a further boost to bilateral relations. He said that Pak-China Economic Corridor is an important project which will bring socio-economic prosperity in the country. He also gave a detailed overview of the visits to the UK and Germany. About the recent SAARC summit in Nepal, the Foreign Secretary said that Prime Minister held very constructive bilateral interaction with heads of the state and leaders of the governments of all the member countries other than the Indian.
He said that Pakistan wants good neighbourly relations with India. He added that an 'incidental' handshake between the two premiers also sent a very positive and meaningful message. The senators asked the Foreign Office to look into the credibility of a news item published in some section of the media pertaining to trade between Afghanistan and India and Pakistan's role in it.
The committee also discussed the complaint by Ex-Accountant of Pakistan Embassy School, Sana'a Yemen Shafqat Elahi against the Ambassador of Pakistan in Yemen, Dr Irfan Yousaf Shami against his termination from school. The Senators expressed dissatisfaction over the briefing given by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and directed the Adviser to Prime Minister to appoint an inquiry officer to probe the issue and present a report in 15 days. The committee also offered fateha for the martyrs of the Army Public School.
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