The visit of President Pervez Musharraf to China is part of high level interaction to review the entire gambit of bilateral relations with main thrust on economic and defence cooperation, said foreign office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq in reply to a question in the weekly briefing held here on Thursday.
This is evident from the fact that the team President took with him comprised Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Chairman HEC, Chairman Trade Development Authority and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission.
AFGHAN N-WASTE ALLEGATION: When asked about the progress on the veracity of an Afghan minister statement alleging that Pakistan dumped nuclear waste on Afghan territory during Taliban rule, the spokesman said disposal of nuclear waste in Pakistan is strictly regulated following international standards. Our nuclear power stations are under IAEA safeguards, which strictly monitor storage of nuclear waste.
Pakistan has also taken up the matter with the Afghan Foreign Office, which neither confirmed the statement of their Parliamentary Affairs Minister nor commented on it, which clearly indicates that the allegations are baseless and demonstrate ignorance, he added. If Afghan government has any doubt, Pakistan would suggest that it should invite experts from IAEA to inspect the site where nuclear waste is allegedly dumped. Since nuclear waste carry distinct signatures, the experts could also verify its origin.
PAK-INDIA COMPOSITE DIALOGUE: When inquired about the Composite Dialogue review meetings, he replied that Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister level review of the Fourth Round of Pakistan-India Composite Dialogue will be held on May 20, 21, 2008 in Islamabad.
Talks on all eight segments of the Composite Dialogue were held in 2007. They are: Peace and Security including CBMs; Jammu and Kashmir; Siachen; Sir Creek; Wullar Barrage; Terrorism and Drugs Trafficking; Economic and Commercial Cooperation; and Promotion of Friendly Exchanges.
The importance of discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute could be judged from the fact that it has been focus of attention for a just settlement at various other levels of interaction, including summit level meetings. Under the Composite Dialogue mechanism the two countries have also been discussing CBMs many of which have been in place to bring about improvement in bilateral relations.
The review meetings will help the two sides to assess the progress made in the fourth round of the eight segments of Composite Dialogue process and deliberate on how to address the out-standing issues in a more meaningful way.
On a proposal by an Indian Held Kashmir leader for establishment of Truth and Reconciliation Commission with representation from both sides of the Line of Control the spokesman said, Pakistan believes that focus needs to be on the resolution of dispute which has caused so much suffering to Kashmiri people in the Indian Held Kashmir.
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission could be established after resolution of the dispute. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, which is a reference point for all such proposals, was established after the apartheid regime ended in that country, he concluded.
A.Q KHAN: When asked about A.Q. Khan, he said, it is now closed issue and Foreign Minster had made it clear that he is a sick man and allowed to move with his family for outing and medical check ups.
About the US Democratic Party legislators letter to President Bush asking the Administration to refocus on Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the foreign office spokesman said, "the letter being referred to is addressed by Democrat leaders in the Congress to President Bush-communicating their views on what should be the US priorities in the war on terror and how they intend to follow-up on their four-point strategy proposed to the Administration. As such it is not for us to comment on a communication between some US legislators and the Bush Administration".
The letter inter alia asks to 'refocus' attention on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to address the al Qaeda threat. Our position is clear on this issue. We are fighting terrorism in our own national interest. We hold that a comprehensive strategy that encompasses political, socio-economic development and security tracks is essential to eliminate this threat.
VISA TO NIGERIAN NATIONALS: Commenting on a local newspaper stories alleging irregularities in issuance of visas to Nigerian nationals, he said, 'the news stories that have appeared in a newspaper gave an incorrect picture and are regrettable. Our missions abroad including that in Abuja abide by the instructions received from Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Narcotics Control and Anti-Narcotics Forces (ANF), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others while issuing visas to foreign nationals'.
In an informal discussion with the spokesman about an internet story alleging US attack on Khushab N-plant in which two persons were killed, he clarified the positions saying that internet story was baseless. Actually it was a heavy water plant of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission under annual maintenance when the incident occurred due to gas leakage which claimed to lives injuring two other persons. Answering a question about Olympic torch rally, he said sports should be kept away from politics.