The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan and Iran have agreed to work closely for the implementation of Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project which was duly discussed during Prime Minister Imran Khan''s two-day visit to the country. Speaking at his weekly media briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said that during Prime Minister''s visit to Iran, the two sides also discussed the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, among other projects, adding that both sides expressed their commitment and agreed to work closely for the implementation of the project.
About Iran''s stance on the issue of Kashmir, he said that in the joint statement, the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan''s stance on the issue had garnered emphatic support from the Iranian side.
"There is an entire paragraph which calls for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in light of the UN Security Council''s resolutions. This is a significant victory of our diplomatic endeavours which should not be discounted or downplayed by anyone. The Kashmiris greatly appreciate the stance taken by Iran on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," Dr Faisal said.
Asked whether the Prime Minister raised the Ormara terror attack with Iranian leadership, he said that the Prime Minister during his visit asserted that security issues and concerns of both sides need to be resolved completely through close engagement of concerned agencies. Both sides are ready to address this subject comprehensively, he added.
When his response was sought on Prime Minister Khan''s remarks in relation to the Pakistani soil being used against Iran, Dr Faisal said that there has been a lot of debate about Prime Minister''s statement on use of Pakistan soil.
"The statement has been largely taken out of context. Prime Minister Imran Khan was talking about non-state actors using Pakistani soil under foreign influence to carry out activities in Pakistan or coordinating from Pakistan, case in point is Commander Kulbushan Jadhav and local facilitators. In the same manner, Pakistan is attacked using soil of Iran and Afghanistan," he clarified.
He said that the same was clearly stated by the Prime Minister during his visit to Iran while referring to latest incident in Balochistan. "That is why the Prime Minister is making all-out efforts for peace across whole region," he said, adding that the PM''s statement being linked to any other context is an effort to misinterpret the expression which doesn''t serve Pakistan in any way.
To another question, he said that Pakistan stands ready to extend all-out support and cooperation to Sri Lanka in investigation into the recent terrorist attacks in which as many as 359 people were killed on Easter. He said that Sri Lanka has not yet officially sought any help from Pakistan in the investigation into the attacks.
He said that President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi called their respective Sri Lankan counterparts and affirmed that the people and government of Pakistan stood in complete solidarity with their Sri Lankan brethren. "Pakistan will provide every possible assistance that Sri Lanka requests...This has been conveyed at the highest level," he added.
He also stated that there was no Pakistani national among those killed in the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka while three women namely Maheen Hasan, Muzna Humayun and Atika Atif, sustained injuries in the blasts and were subsequently discharged from the hospital. He said that High Commission in Colombo visited the injured women in hospital and connected them with their families, adding that all possible facilitation is being extended to their families who are in the process of traveling, as per their requirements.
To a question about his recent interview in which the spokesperson was attributed to have said that Dr Shakeel Afridi might be given to the US and that Dr Aafia Siddiqui does not want to come back to Pakistan, the spokesperson said that his remarks were quoted ''out of context''. "We are in touch with Dr Aafia and her family and we will continue our efforts to bring her back to Pakistan. We encourage responsible journalism," he said, adding: "We continue raising the issue in Islamabad as well as in Washington. We remain engaged with the US authorities."
He said that Pakistan''s Consul General in Houston regularly visits Dr Aafia and the last visit took place on April 18, 2019. About Shakeel Afridi, he said that Pakistan has a stated position about him. However, he declined to repeat Pakistan''s position on Afridi when asked if he would like to repeat the stated position.
Responding to a question about suspension of cross-Line of Control trade between Pakistan and India, he said that Pakistan has condemned the unilateral suspension of trade by India. "We hope that trade is resumed soon, as it is a confidence-building measure between the two countries," he added. About the Kashmiri leaders languishing in Indian jails, he said Pakistan strongly condemns the continued Indian atrocities in the occupied valley and detention of the Kashmiri leaders.
He said that Yasin Malik''s health is an issue of an extreme concern to Pakistan, adding, "We support his wife Mushaal Malik''s decision to visit him and hope that Indian authorities will issue a visa to her, so that she can see her ailing husband." He said that Indian authorities have committed blatant violations of human rights and illegally incarcerated not only Yasin Malik but many other Kashmiris.
To another query about the announcement by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to release Pakistani prisoners, he said that there is no delay in releasing of the prisoners, adding: "We are pursuing it actively and good news will be given soon."
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