Foreign Office on Thursday said that Afghanistan has assured its co-operation to beef up security along Pak-Afghan border so that militants cannot escape the ongoing military operation "Zarb-e-Azb" in North Waziristan. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told weekly press briefing that the Afghan authorities have assured Islamabad of their co-operation after civilian and military leadership urged Kabul to increase the security along Pak-Afghan border to prevent the militants' escape the military offensive.
She, however, said that the ground situation could better be known to the military leadership. "At the political level, we have emphasised that there is a need for a particularly better border management and control at this time", she said, adding the ISPR also issued a statement that Afghan authorities have been contacted through military channels as well, emphasising the need for parallel steps from the other side.
Responding to question, the spokesperson confirmed that Mahmood Khan Achakzai, member of the Parliament along with Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry visited Afghanistan on June 17-18, 2014 as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to seek Afghanistan's support in eliminating terrorism. The Special Envoy met the Afghan President, she added. To a question whether Pakistan also took up the matter of TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah and others militants believed to be taken refuge across the border, she said that these issues came under discussion with Afghan authorities including the nature of measures to be taken together to eliminate terrorism. "We have a commitment not to allow our territory to be used against Afghanistan, we expect Afghanistan not to allow its territory to be used against Pakistan", she added.
When asked whether the resumption of US drone attacks is a coincidence or it is being carried out with the permission of the government of Pakistan, the spokesperson rejected that drone strikes are being carried out with Pakistan's consent. "Are you implying that these attacks have been co-ordinated...If that is the case then you are wrong. There is no way we condone these attacks. We have condemned these strikes", she said, adding government of Pakistan has taken a number of steps to generate international public opinion against drone strikes.
She said that Islamabad has been taking the issue of drone attacks with Washington. She also referred to Pakistan's sponsored resolution, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly last year. At the current Human Rights Council session, under way in Geneva, there was a very strong reference to the drone strikes being outside the parameters of international law, she said, adding a report has been presented by the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary and Arbitrary Execution on this question. In his report, he said use of armed drones should not undermine human rights, she pointed out.
On the visit of the Prime Minister Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to Russia, the spokesperson said that both Pakistan and the Russian Federation have clearly shown interest in strengthening relations. She said that bilateral relations of the two countries have been on a positive trajectory and in the recent years, there have been many visits and many initiatives. The Advisor left for Moscow from Jeddah on Thursday to attend a conference on regional security. The spokesperson said that he will also be meeting with his Russian counterpart. "They will be discussing the status of bilateral relations and how to take this relationship forward and how to give it more impetus", she said, adding that they would also discuss the regional situation and other issues of mutual interest.
When asked about the wellbeing of Pakistanis in Iraq, she said most of the Pakistanis are not in the area where situation is alarming; however, the embassy is in constant contact with the community. "We are concerned at the recent escalation and violence in Iraq. We believe that a stable and united Iraq is vital for regional and international peace and security", she said, adding Pakistan is watching the situation and hopes that Iraq will overcome these problems and there will be stability. About Pakistan-India upcoming foreign secretary level talks, she said that the two sides are in contact and the dates are not yet finalised.
On the issue of number of Pakistani prisoners in China, the spokesperson said 281 Pakistani prisoners are in prisons in China. Of them, 90 percent face charges of drug and narcotics smuggling and illegal trade. Replying to a question about asking Canadian government to stop Dr Tahir-ul-Qaderi to travel to Pakistan as he is a Canadian citizen, the spokesperson said although there were international norms in this regard but Tahir-ul-Qaderi was also a Pakistani citizen, therefore, this law was not applicable in this regard, she added.
Comments
Comments are closed.