The Foreign Office Thursday declared that US President Donald Trump's recent remarks with regard to Pakistan are 'indeed a departure from his tweet of January 1, 2019,' saying that the country 'looks forward' to positive engagement with the US at the leadership level.
"President Trump's remarks are indeed a departure from his tweet of January 01, 2019. We look forward to positive engagement with the US at the leadership level," Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said in response to a question about Trump's recent remarks in his weekly media briefing.
"We want to have a great relationship with Pakistan, but they house the enemy, they take care of the enemy. We just can't do that. So, I look forward to meeting with the folks from - and the new leadership in Pakistan, we'll be doing that in the not-too-distant future. I ended the 1.3 billion [dollars] we paid, it's like water, we just do it. And I ended the money to countries that don't even vote for us in the United Nations," CNN quoted President Trump as having told his cabinet meeting Wednesday.
Last year on January 01, 2018, Trump had accused Pakistan of providing 'safe havens' to terrorists and deceiving the US while receiving billions of dollars in foreign aid. "The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" he had stated in the tweet which led to deterioration in bilateral relations.
However, the two sides reengaged on the issue of Afghanistan recently following the last month letter by President Trump to Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking Pakistan's help in restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
Responding another question about Trump administration's decision to pull its troops out of Afghanistan, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan, being the immediate neighbour of Afghanistan, is interested that any development in Afghanistan leads to peace and stability of the region.
Currently, he pointed out that efforts are under way towards a political settlement in Afghanistan. "Hence, the withdrawal of US troops should be part of a peace process with a view to ensure that there is no power vacuum in Afghanistan," he asserted.
He emphasised that it is Pakistan's genuine desire that peace returns to Afghanistan allowing the return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and beginning of an era of prosperity and normalcy in the region. On Afghan peace process, he said that Pakistan will continue its outreach to regional countries and important international partners for mutually beneficial cooperation and to advance peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
In pursuance of current government's policy of outreach to the neighbourhood and the region, he said, Foreign Minister Qureshi recently undertook visits to Afghanistan, Iran, China and Russia from 24-26 December 2018 and Qatar on 30 December 2018.
He said that Qureshi briefed his interlocutors about Pakistan's efforts to facilitate direct talks between the US and the Taliban and underlined the importance of support of the relevant regional countries for success and sustainability of the Afghan peace process.
About the reported talks between Iran and the Taliban, he said that Pakistan is facilitating peace talks between the US and the Taliban on the request of the US and the Afghan government. He said that Pakistan has always maintained that Afghanistan's neighbours and important regional countries should be on board and play a role for Afghan peace process, adding that regional consensus on Afghan peace process is important for success and sustainability of the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
"We have seen reports about the Iran-Taliban talks. In recent months, we have seen engagement of Taliban with various countries and their participation in international conferences," he added. The spokesperson also rejected a media report that Pakistan has secretly sent 1,000 troops to Yemen, saying, "I completely reject this baseless report."
About the reported killing of the mastermind of Karachi Chinese Consulate attack in Afghanistan, he said that Afghan government has not yet conveyed anything to Pakistan and hoped that the Afghan authorities must investigate the matter as why a terrorist was present in their city.
"We expect that the Afghan government undertakes a comprehensive investigation to find out and clarify how a terrorist commander from a banned terrorist outfit was residing in an Afghan city and who were providing him refuge in Afghanistan," he said, adding that it is important that Afghanistan does not let any country, terrorist group or individual use its territory against Pakistan.
Commenting on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the alleged "surgical strikes," he said, "There was no such event...It is a figment of Indian imagination." He pointed out that the Indian media are themselves doubting the claims of their government.
On the Indian media's report regarding Pakistan voting in favour of an ICJ judgement, which ostensibly is the main stay of India's pleading before the ICJ in Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav case, the spokesperson described the report as a leak of a sub judice matter and declined to comment further on it.
"It [report] is based on a leak which is very sad because the case is sub judice. It is definitely a misrepresentation of facts and a deliberate leak. However, we stand by principles and will not comment on the matter as it remains sub judice," he added.
Responding to another question about putting Israel on the list of countries to which Pakistan allows conditional entry into the country, he declined to comment further but stated that "Pakistan does not recognise Israel."
Commenting on the recent elections in Bangladesh, he said that Pakistan welcomes the newly elected government in Bangladesh and wants Pakistan-Bangladesh relations to move forward in line with the 1974 tripartite agreement.
"We welcome the newly elected government in Bangladesh and hope and expect that it would help take the bilateral relationship away from the irritants that it has faced in the recent times," he added.
To a question about corruption cases in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said that in Bulgaria, there was a report of embezzlement and a special fact-finding officer was sent to investigate the issue. He said that the accountant concerned has accepted responsibility for embezzlement and his case has been referred to NAB on his return.
He said a case against high commissioner in South Africa is sub judice. In Portugal, he said that misinformation was circulated about Ambassador Leena Moazzam, adding an inquiry exonerated her, after that she was sent to Belarus by the previous government.
Regarding the case of Pakistan's ambassador in Rome, he said that an inquiry has been undertaken by the Ministry of Commerce and Foreign Office and its report has been shared with the ombudsperson.
About Pakistan's deputy head of mission in Singapore, he said that the concerned diplomat has been recalled and action is being taken in this regard.
About the violations of building codes by various embassies in Diplomatic Enclave, he said that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has not brought any such violation in the notice of Foreign Office. He said that as per procedure, all the "construction plans" are shared by the respective missions with Foreign Office.
In turn the "building plans" are sent to CDA, which is the approving and controlling authority for construction inside of the Diplomatic Enclave, he said, adding that this applies on all the missions (44 moved inside and those follow in the future) located inside the Diplomatic Enclave.
Comments
Comments are closed.