Pakistan condemns CIA's brutal interrogation techniques

Pakistan on Thursday joined the world to condemn the CIA's brutal interrogation techniques against detainees captured under terror suspicions after 9/11 incident, saying international human rights law must be respected while countering international terrorism.
"We have seen some excerpts of the very lengthy report. We have also seen the reactions. We deplore the systematic torture of the detainees at various locations by CIA", Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told the weekly press briefing. Many countries, including Afghanistan, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, Iran, Germany, North Korea and the United Nations reacted sharply to the report the US Senate Intelligence Committee released on Tuesday outlining the CIA's harsh probing tactics and condemned the actions.
"The Senate Intelligence Committee report reinforces, what we have said all along, that international human rights and humanitarian law must be respected while countering international terrorism...We have also emphasised the need for transparency", Tasnim Aslam said, adding we have noted the assurances by US Administration at the highest level, that this behaviour would never be repeated again.
Referring to the statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Kashmir dispute, the spokesperson stated that Pakistan welcomes the statement by the UN chief, offering his good offices, to assist in resolving the long outstanding issue of Jammu and Kashmir. "This unresolved issue remains the root cause of tension between Pakistan and India, and it's just resolution is of paramount importance for ensuring peace, stability and development in the region", she said.
She said that the Secretary General's statement regarding the need to associate the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the process, while respecting their rights, is highly appreciated. "Pakistan firmly believes that the final disposition of the Jammu and Kashmir issue should be in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people, to be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices, as enshrined in relevant Security Council Resolutions", she said.
The spokesperson further said that Pakistan remains committed to a sustained, unconditional and result-oriented dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. To a question, she said that Kashmir issue remains on the agenda of UN Security Council and the UN observers are present on the Line of Control in the two countries. She said that there are various measures and steps through which the dispute is highlighted and we remain engaged with the United Nations both in New York and in Geneva.
When asked whether India would accept whatsoever is the solution by the UN, the spokesperson declined to comment on India's reaction, saying in any case, the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir were accepted by India as well. "They [UNSC resolutions] are relevant and applicable. Hence it is not a matter of choice", she added.
Asked to comment on Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's statement who warned China to refrain from building infrastructure in Azad Kashmir, the spokesperson said that it is for the China how to respond to the statement.
However, she declared that Pakistan will go ahead with the development projects in Azad Kashmir. "These projects benefit the people of Azad Kashmir and I may draw your attention to projects India is constructing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir", she added. To another question regarding the terrorists' sanctuaries in Afghanistan, she pointed out that during the recent visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the two sides reached an understanding not to allow our respective territories to be used against the other side, adding that the commitment remains intact.
She further said that Pakistan has allocated $500 million for development projects in Afghanistan, adding the projects included infrastructure, roads and connectivity, hospitals and other such projects that are under construction. About Malala Yousafzai's Noble Peace Prize Award, she said: "we are very proud of her achievement which has been acknowledged and felicitated at every level.
About her security if returns back to the country, the spokesperson stated that she does not know if she [Malala] intends to return to Pakistan and when. As regards the threats, she said unfortunately, Pakistanis have confronted a security situation as we have said repeatedly due to the developments in our regions over the last 30 years. "We are countering that, Pakistanis are a brave nation, determined to overcome these challenges", she added.
The spokesperson also strongly condemned the killing of Palestinian Cabinet Minister, Ziad Abu Ein, by Israeli forces and termed it an act of barbarism of which there is no precedent. "The continued killing of the people of Palestine must come to an end. Pakistan expects the United Nations, OIC and International Community to play their role in this regard", she added. She said that people and the government of Pakistan share the sorrow of the people and the government of Palestine over this sad and unfortunate incident and wish to convey their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
"Pakistan believes that the establishment of an independent, viable and geographically contiguous Palestinian State, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif, as its capital, is the only way to guarantee lasting peace and stability in the region", she added.