Pakistan declared on Thursday it has launched a massive military crackdown on militants in North Waziristan and expressed the hope that neighbouring Afghanistan will help by stopping terrorists' escape into their sanctuaries across the border to avoid the wrath of the military.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that the ongoing military offensive was also in Afghanistan's interest and its cooperation to beef up security along the border will bar the militants from feeling. She said that the purpose of the recent visit of the Prime Minister's special envoy Mehmood Khan Achakzai to Kabul was to seek Afghan cooperation in border management, as an operation has been launched to root out the menace of terrorism.
"We expect Afghanistan to take measures on the borders so that these terrorists do not find sanctuaries on Afghan territory," she said, adding that the purpose of the visit by Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Rangin Daftar Spanta is in the context of carrying this discussion forward.
She recalled that Pakistan had taken extraordinary measures including restriction of movement and deployment of additional troops on the border when presidential elections took place in Afghanistan. She said that the security measures made by Pakistan were appreciated not only by the Afghans but the international community as well. She expressed the confidence that Afghan authorities would respond positively to Pakistan's call for enhanced security at the border.
When asked about Pakistan's position on the US State Department's decision of including four Lashker-e Taiba linked organisations and two individuals in the list of the specially designated global terrorists entities, the spokesperson said that taking actions against any individual or entity becomes obligatory on Pakistan if United Nations lists them and puts them on the list of designated entities.
"An action by any state individually does not have any bearing or obligation on Pakistan," she made it clear. Responding to other query regarding work stated by India on Phase 3 project on Baglihar dam, she said that there exists a judgement on Baghlihar, which essentially puts restrictions on India not to construct any dam that would stem or reduce the flow of water to Pakistan which is Pakistan's right as the lower riparian.
When asked whether Pakistan has sought international assistance for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan, the spokesperson said Pakistan has not asked for any foreign assistance. "The people of North Waziristan are our brothers and sisters and as a nation it is our responsibility to come out and extend all-out support for the IDPs who have to leave their homes for the peace and security of the entire country," he added.
However, she said that United Arab Emirates has offered some sort of assistance for the IDPs. The spokesperson also announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has donated one-day salary both at the Headquarters and in our missions abroad, adding up to around Rs 4.5 million. She further said that the Foreign Office Women Association has also contributed about Rs 500,000.
In her reaction to a statement by the EU in the backdrop of Farzana murder case in Lahore, she said: "GSP or no GSP, we know that protection and security of our people and their rights and fundamental freedoms is our responsibility." She said that Pakistan has taken measures to ensure fundamental rights of its citizens. As regards the GSP-plus, she said that both the sides have an on-going engagement and in EU-Pakistan Joint Commission, discussions were held on all aspects of relations including human rights. "GSP review would be in 2016, hopefully on many of these issues we would have moved along by that time," she added.
The spokesperson snubbed a journalist of a private television over a question regarding Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief and stopped him asking political questions, saying "this platform is not for political debate." Earlier, the spokesperson also refuted some media reports about some Pakistani asylum seekers in Sri Lanka who need help but the Foreign Office has been callous and indifferent to their plight. She said as per Pakistan missions' information, there are about 75 families under an agreement of 2005 between UNHCR and the Sri Lankan government. However, she said that neither the UNHCR nor the Sri Lankan government share any information about Pakistani asylum seekers with the High Commission authorities because of the principle of confidentiality and privacy clause applied by the UNHCR.
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