Pakistan on Thursday declared that its multifaceted strategic relations with China and expanding ties with Russia are not at the cost of its relations with any other country including the United States.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal while responding to media queries during his weekly briefing said that Pakistan and China enjoy multifaceted strategic partnership and both countries cooperate with each other in all spheres of bilateral relationship.
He said that the two countries have robust political, strategic, economic and defence relations, adding the procurements through the defence ties are very important facet of the bilateral relations.
"However, our relations with China are not at the cost of relations with any other country including the US," he said in a reference of recent media reports that Pakistan has shifted its reliance from the US to China for high-tech weapons.
Similarly, he added that Pakistan's relations with Russia are constantly improving as is evident from recent visits by the foreign minister, chief of army staff and national security adviser to Russia.
"Our relations with Russia are growing steadily in all fields and are independent of our bilateral ties with any other country. Pakistan also enjoys historic and friendly relations with the United States," he added.
He further said that National Security Advisor Lieutenant General Naseer Khan Janjua (retd) is currently visiting Russia to attend the 9th International Security Conference of High Ranking Officials being held in Sochi on April 24-26, 2018.
He said that Janjua is accompanied by an inter-ministerial delegation, adding he would be meeting security officials of Russia as well as other participating countries. He said that the adviser will brief the participants on Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts and situation of security and stability in the region.
He further said that a Russian delegation including Vice Governor of Saint Petersburg, Sergej Movchav, accompanied by a business delegation visited Karachi from April 24-26, 2018.
The visit took place in response to the visit of the governor Sindh to Saint Petersburg in October 2017, he said, adding during the visit, the vice governor of Saint Petersburg met the governor and chief minister Sindh and attended a business forum.
The two sides signed a roadmap for cooperation under the framework of agreement signed between the provincial government of Sindh and Saint Petersburg in October 2017, he added.
He said that the delegation, which included representatives of Russian universities, economic youth and strategic planning departments and Russian companies in pharmaceutical, industrial textile, energy, oil and gas sectors, met their business counterparts and explored possibilities for enhancing cooperation in relevant fields. "The visit of vice governor will contribute towards promoting trade, economic and education linkages between the two countries," he added.
About the recent visit by Alice Wells, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, he said that the US diplomat called on Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the two sides reviewed the state of play in the bilateral relationship as well as the regional security issues, particularly Afghanistan.
Reiterating Pakistan's stance for a politically negotiated settlement, owned and led by the Afghans, he said that Pakistan reaffirmed its constructive participation in all regional and bilateral mechanisms aimed at pursuing a peaceful solution to the Afghan conflict.
Matters related to Afghan refugees, rise in drug/poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, and the use of Afghan soil to launch terrorist attacks in Pakistan were also raised, he said.
He further said that Ambassador Wells was also briefed on the atrocities and human rights violations being committed by the Indian forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOC) resulting in hundreds of casualties.
He said that Ambassador Wells appreciated the recent successful visit of the Prime Minister to Kabul and the progress being made on APAPPS [Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity] and it was agreed to continue regular bilateral discussions at all levels to achieve the common objectives of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
Dr Faisal further said that the issue of travel restriction on Pakistani diplomats in the US also came under discussion and both sides agreed to resolve the issue amicably.
On the traffic incident involving the air and defense attaché of the US Embassy, he said Ambassador Wells also expressed condolences for the victim of the tragic accident, adding the two sides agreed that the matter will be resolved as per applicable laws.
To another query about the reported handshake between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the recently concluded CHOGM meeting in London, the spokesperson said that there is no confirmation of any handshake or a formal meeting between the two prime ministers.
Referring to the acquittals by Indian court in Mecca Masjid blast case, he said that Pakistan notes it with concern the acquittals of the main accused in the blast, adding the gradual acquittal of accused of Samjhota terrorist attack, including the mastermind Swami Aseemanand, makes a travesty of the Indian judicial system.
He said that both Colonel Purohit and Swami Aseemanand were masterminds of the deadly Samjhauta Express terrorist attacks of 2007.
"We have regularly lodged our concern with India regarding the lack of progress in the Samjhota terrorist attacks, in which more than 42 innocent Pakistanis lost their lives, despite a lapse of more than a decade," he said.
"India is quick to indulge in pointless blame game, labeling everything as terrorism, for political point-scoring, often without substance or evidence but that quickness does not extend to ensuring justice for the real victims, who lost their lives, even after 11 years," he said.
He further said that India is making a complete mockery of its justice system, especially while dealing with Saffron terror and terrorist acts committed under the garb of Hindutva and Hindu fundamentalism.
"The outcome of Samjhauta Express terrorist attack case is ironic, while the two accused had themselves confessed to their crime. Their acquittal in another case is a cause of major concern for Pakistan and the families of the victims of the Samjhauta terrorist attack, who are still awaiting justice," he added.
To another query, the spokesperson said that Pakistan has no frustration regarding Indian missile activities but international community must take notice of such aggressive behavior. He said Pakistan possesses full capacity to answer Indian actions in same manner.
Sharing Pakistan's position on the historic meeting between North and South Korean Presidents, he said that Pakistan wishes peace and stability for the Korean Peninsula. "We hope that all stakeholders will be able to find a negotiated solution to the issue," he said, adding that Pakistan has consistently supported the objective of nuclear weapons free Korean Peninsula in line with the mutual agreement among all the stakeholders.
"Any step towards normalization of the situation in the Korean Peninsula would be for the benefit of the entire region and would contribute towards global peace. In this context we appreciate the efforts made by the countries of the region, especially China," he added.
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