Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Wednesday said that foreign secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India has been proposed in middle of January 2016 to set the schedule for an upcoming dialogue between the two countries at various levels. "Pakistan has suggested that the two foreign secretaries of the two countries should meet in mid January 2016 in Islamabad," Aziz said while talking to reporters here at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI).
He said that a schedule has been prepared for the two foreign secretaries to review the dates and the level of upcoming talks on eight to nine items, debatable between the two countries, as agreed during the recent visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the eve of fifth ministerial meeting of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process in Islamabad. As per the schedule, he said that it has been proposed that the dialogue at various levels should be followed at the foreign secretary level in the upcoming months of March, April, May and June. "As the understanding develops between the two foreign secretaries, the dialogue process would move forward accordingly," he added.
On December 9, 2015, the two countries agreed to commence a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue and directed foreign secretaries to work out modalities and schedule of the meetings under the dialogue including Peace and Security, CBMs, Jammu & Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, Economic and Commercial Cooperation, Counterterrorism, Narcotics Control and Humanitarian Issues, People to People exchanges and Religious Tourism.
To a query about Pakistan's decision on joining the Saudi led 34-nation military coalition, Aziz said that the coalition was not compulsory in nature but was voluntary, adding that the country is not bound to be part of any activity but every country has to decide according to its priorities. "We have already stated that we support the coalition...there would be consultations bilaterally and collectively, which would be followed by the decision regarding the level of participation by any country," he said, adding Pakistan's decision would be based on our policy and priorities "In the days to come, the situation will become clear and our participation will be according to our policy as whole", he added.
Asked whether the parliament would be consulted on joining the Saudi-led coalition, Aziz said the objective under which Pakistan is joining the coalition is counter-terrorism and everybody in the parliament supports that efforts towards counter-terrorism should be intensified. "Parliament has already given certain guidelines, which is our policy and has been discussed many times...We will work within those guidelines. If we are deviating [from parliamentary guidelines] or taking some major step it may require further approval [from parliament]," he said, adding the parliament will be informed in any case.
He further said that in the next few days there will be consultations through which things will come out as obvious. To another question, he clarified that it was not an alliance but a coalition and there is no need to sign an agreement for formally joining it. "There is no need to sign any agreement but you have to announce your support and there might be more or less activities while being part of the coalition," he added.
About the talks between Afghan government and Taliban, he said that the 'steering committee' of the four countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, United States and China will meet in the first week of January 2016 to assess the nature of dialogue and the venue for the talks. He said that the venue of the meeting of the steering committee has not yet been decided. According to him, the steering committee of the four countries will not take decision but oversee the reconciliation process and share the progress with each others in the dialogue process.
The Adviser further said that Army Chief General Raheel Sharif will also be visiting Afghanistan in coming few days to discuss various issues related to security and the reconciliation process. He said that the Army Chief usually visits Afghanistan in which they discuss military to military relationship as well as intelligence sharing between the two countries. He said that the talks during army chief's visit could cover the reconciliation process, its prospects and difficulties therein. "It will be a very beneficial visit," he added.
About the Pakistan-US relations, he said that the overall relations between the two countries are satisfactory, adding cooperation is under way in various sectors including on economic side, strategic side as well as in defence. However, he said that there are concerns on both sides and discussions are taking place time and time again. On relations with Russia, he said that progress has been made in bilateral relations between the two countries especially on economic side. Russia is investing in the South-North LNG Pipeline from Karachi to Lahore. Similarly, he added, that on defence side talks are under way to purchase helicopters from the Russian Federation.
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