The Foreign Office on Thursday insisted that there is no change in Pakistan's stance on Dr Shakil Afridi, a medic who helped the America's CIA track down al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, and also claimed a 'positive' trajectory in Pakistan-US relations after the recent meetings in Washington.
Responding to a series of questions during his weekly media briefing to clarify a recent statement by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qurershi that "Pakistan is open for talks on Dr Shakil Afridi," the Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said: "There is no change in our position in the case of Dr Shakil Afridi."
He said that Pakistan's relations with the US are on a positive trajectory and the objective is to achieve the 'common grounds.' He said that Foreign Minister Qureshi, during his visit to United Nations General Assembly session in New York, also held interaction with US President Donald Trump and "a positive exchange of views took place between the two leaders."
In his meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, he said, Foreign Minister Qureshi held wide ranging talks on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, conveyed to the US side that close engagement between Pakistan and the US has always been mutually beneficial and a factor for stability in South Asia.
He said that both sides agreed that the time is ripe for the Afghan Taliban to avail the opportunity for a political settlement by seizing the opportunity for dialogue, besides agreeing to remain engaged with a view to achieving their shared bilateral and regional objectives.
To a question, he said that Pakistan supports the peace efforts in Afghanistan. However, he made it clear that it is a shared responsibility of all the concerned to make efforts for bringing the Taliban and other warring groups to the dialogue process.
About the expected visit of US Special Envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad to Pakistan in coming days, he said Pakistan fully supports the policy of negotiations with Taliban. "It is a shared responsibility to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table and no single country can be expected to undertake this task unilaterally," he said, adding that Pakistan remains open to working with all partners to create an enabling environment for initiating peace talks.
"We want there should be talks [with the Taliban]...[direct] talks with the US. But, this should be a shared responsibility instead of putting it on a single country to persuade Taliban for the talks," he added.
He said Pakistan is pursuing the policy of peaceful neighborhood and dialogue is the only way forward to resolve issues and disputes between Pakistan and India.
Responding to another question about opening of Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims, he said: "Nothing can happen if there are no talks between the two countries." He, however, reiterated Pakistan's stance to hold talks with India to resolve all outstanding issues.
He also dismissed the impression that Pakistan is "pleading" with India to hold talks, saying that it was the letter by Prime Minister Imran Khan in response to an earlier letter by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi following which the Indian side agreed on a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of UNGA in New York. But the Indian side called off the meeting on flimsy excuses, he added.
He also rejected media reports that the Indian side had sought a secret meeting between the two foreign ministers. To another query, he said the foreign minister held talks with all South Asian countries in New York and they all are very positive to come to Islamabad for holding of the pending SAARC Summit. However, he said India is creating hurdles in this regard.
He said that Pakistan is raising the issue of water and controversial projects initiated by India such as Kishanganga and Ratle, at all forums, adding that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) currently remains dysfunctional due to India's reluctance.
Commenting on Indian army chief's recent statement about the so-called "surgical strikes," he said head of a professional army should not make such claims. He made it clear that no compromise will be made on national security.
Referring to Indian brutalities in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he said that the Indian forces also reportedly used chemical weapons against Kashmiris during a recent search operation in Bandipora district. "Use of chemical weapons is a felony against humanity," he added.
Asked whether Pakistan took China into confidence before inviting Saudi Arabia to invest in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said that there is no misunderstanding between Pakistan and China, adding that both are on the same page over the project. However, he expressed his inability to comment on the latest controversy with regard to inviting Saudi Arabia as third country partner in the CPEC framework. He also insisted, "Pakistan is paying no price for the proposed Saudi investment."
About Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav's upcoming hearing in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in February 2019, he said Pakistan will fight the case with full preparations.
To another query, he said that an inquiry against Pakistan's High Commissioner Sahibzada Ahmad Khan has been concluded following a controversial video went viral. "The high commissioner in London has been reprimanded and action is being initiated against him," he added.
Sources, however, said that the high commissioner in London has been called back to the headquarters and he will be replaced with another diplomat, adding that a few names including Johar Saleem, Naghmana Hashmi and Zaheer Janjua are being considered for the post.
Comments
Comments are closed.