As Kashmir Solidarity Day is being observed today, Pakistan called for early solution of the dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. "India continues to violate the human rights and brutalise Kashmiris in the occupied Kashmir. Pakistan has always condemned these atrocities", said Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah during his weekly press briefing.
He said Kashmir Solidarity Day reminds us of the Indian atrocities and the need for Kashmir dispute to be resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. To a question about the foreign secretaries' level talks between Pakistan and India, he said that no date has been fixed for the meeting of the two foreign secretaries as yet and the two sides are in touch to finalise the date.
About the reported denial of Pakistani visa to Indian actor Anupam Kher, he said that Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi spoke to Anupam Kher three days before the Literature Festival to which he was invited. "He was offered visa. However, Kher conveyed that he would not be able to visit Pakistan due to other commitments", the spokesperson added. Responding to another query on the whereabouts of Indian underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, he said that Pakistan has several times denied his presence in the country. "Let me reiterate that he [Ibrahim] has no presence in Pakistan...Indian authorities have admitted at the Ministerial level that Dawood Ibrahim's whereabouts were not known to them", he added.
When asked about any update on the handlers inside Afghanistan of Bacha Khan University attackers, Khalilullah said that he does not have any specific information but both Pakistan and Afghanistan are in touch at various levels regarding the use of Afghan soil by certain elements involved in the Charsadda terrorist attack. Commenting on the revelations by a TTP militant in the custody Latifullah Mehsud that India and Afghanistan jointly direct terrorism in Pakistan, he underscored that dossiers on India's involvement in fomenting terrorism in Pakistan have already been shared with the US and the UN. While Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed not to allow their respective territories to be used against each other, he said. "We expect that this commitment will be honoured", he hoped.
To a question whether any detail was shared with Pakistan about the Saudi led 34-nation military coalition, he said that Pakistan is in touch with the Saudi authorities with regard to various issues relating to the coalition against terrorism. "We will share details about our role in the coalition when it is decided", he added.
Commenting on US military commander's statement about alleged 'safe havens' of Taliban in Pakistan, the spokesperson said that Pakistan does not differentiate between good and bad terrorists. "This policy has been at the heart of operation Zarb-e-Azb, which has been acknowledged and appreciated by the international community, including the US leadership, as a successful operation against terrorists and extremists", he added.
About summoning of Pakistan's High Commissioner in Dhaka by Bangladeshi government, the spokesperson said that the High Commissioner in Dhaka was called in by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, [2 February] for discussion on various issues. He said the High Commissioner raised the issue of a Pakistani official who was illegally detained by the authorities in Bangladesh. "Pakistan has always desired to maintain a positive relationship with Bangladesh. Pakistan extends all due courtesies and privileges to the members of the Diplomatic community stationed in Pakistan and expects Bangladesh to do the same", he added.
When asked to comment on awarding death sentences to individuals on charges of 1971 war crimes in Bangladesh, he said Pakistan expressed its concern whenever such sentences were executed in Bangladesh. About the third meeting of Quadrilateral Co-ordination Committee of Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China, he said that the meeting would be held as per scheduled on Saturday [February 06] in Islamabad. Commenting on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's comments on demolition of Babri Masjid by Hindus as a matter of national shame and politically motivated, the spokesperson said, "We respect the views of the President of India in this regard. We believe that all places of religious worship should be respected and protected".