Record of the Press Briefing by Spokesperson on 04 December 2014 [This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated] There are no opening remarks. The floor is open for questions Question Iran’s jet fighters have taken action in Iraq. What is Pakistan’s reaction on this? (Khwaja Nayyer Iqbal, Kashmir Post) Answer Whatever action Iran is taking in Iraq, I am sure it is in coordination and consultation with Iraqi government and it is against a particular entity, Daish or IS. Question It has been announced by White House that President Obama would be undertaking his visit to India. Is there any chance of US President’s visit to Pakistan in near future? Has any communication taken place in this regard between the two countries? (Mateen Haider, Dawn News) Answer You would recall that the President Obama called the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif two weeks ago. Apart from discussions on bilateral relations, he also informed the Prime Minister about his visit to India. At the moment, there is no visit scheduled by the US President to Pakistan. Question How would Pakistan satisfy the International community about its future role in Afghanistan? Secondly, the information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed recently said regarding one decision of Gilgit-Baltistan court that the jurisdiction of Gilgit Baltistan’s courts does not cover Pakistan. If a person from Gilgit Baltistan takes an issue to the International courts, what will be the position of Pakistan government? (Fida Hussain, Radio FM 99) Answer Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan’s development and stability is very well known. It has been enunciated at leadership level and by the Foreign Office a number of times. We have very broad-based engagement with the Afghan government. We envisage further deepening and broadening of our relationship and cooperation. At the moment, the Prime Minister of Pakistan is in London to attend the conference on Afghanistan and he would have the opportunity to address the conference today and once again share Pakistan’s perspective on Afghanistan. He would have an opportunity to meet with Afghan leadership both the President and Chief Executive who are attending the London conference. About the second question, I would not like to comment on a statement by any Minister. What is important is how the people of Gilgit Baltistan look at their place in Pakistan. We don’t respond to speculative questions. Question The speaker of Iranian Parliament is visiting Pakistan today. What is the agenda of his visit? (Mr. Shahid Anjum, South Asia –News Agency) Answer The visit by the speaker of Iranian Parliament, is taking place at the invitation of the speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly. The visit is part of the regular and frequent exchanges between the two parliaments. As you know the Chairman Senate and Speaker National Assembly visited Iran this year. The interactions are reflective of the multi-faceted and deep rooted relationship between the two countries. You will have the readout from the National Assembly Secretariat about the meetings. Question The Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif during his recent visit to the United States held a meeting with US Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry and the Prime Minister is also expected to meet with Kerry during the ongoing London Summit. What is going to be the points of discussions of this meeting? (Mr. Shaukat Paracha, AAJ TV) Answer Yes, the US Secretary of State is expected to call on the Prime Minister in London. The conference in London is in connection with Afghanistan so the discussions are likely to focus on that. Naturally, bilateral relations will also be discussed. Question Presidents of Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan have inaugurated 935 km long rail-road link that is going to connect these countries. How does Pakistan view such development in the region? Secondly, where does Pakistan stand vis-à-vis Pakistan-China Economic Corridor is there any substantive development in this regard? (Wajahat Ali, Channel News Asia) Answer Our position on the subject of connectivity is clear. We view connectivity as an engine of growth and development in this region. The economic corridor between Pakistan and China, we believe, will give major impetus to development because the vision is that along with the connectivity would be economic and industrial zones and it will generate employment and it will give a push to economic development in Pakistan and the region. If you followed the visit of the Afghan President and understandings reached, there are many projects that would connect Pakistan and Afghanistan and then there are also energy projects and other connectivity projects between Pakistan-Afghanistan and Central Asia and Pakistan and Iran. There is also the ECO platform which envisages connectivity between member states. Question Is there any development after SAARC Summit between Pakistan and India to resume composite dialogue or talks at Foreign Secretary level? If not, why? (Mr. Shahid Rana, ARY TV) Answer We have repeatedly explained the reasons. Pakistan acted in good faith. The Prime Minister accepted the invitation extended by the Indian Prime Minister to attend his inauguration. The two Prime Ministers had a constructive meeting and they decided that the Foreign Secretaries would meet. The dialogue was scheduled and dates were fixed. India cancelled the visit without any solid reason. We believe the onus is on India to take the initiative. Question The Balochistan High Court recently give decision that licenses issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Arab royals for hunting Houbara Bustarad were against the law and directed to take steps in this regard. Is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs going to revoke the licenses that it has issued and by when? (Mr.Waqas Rafique, Capital TV) Answer The decision to allocate areas for hunting is not taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is a Committee, constituted by Prime Minister, headed by the Finance Minister which takes decisions and allocate areas. Once a decision is taken, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicates it. There are also comprehensive guidelines on hunting. As regards what is going to happen, the matter is sub-judice. I cannot comment further on this. There is going to be a hearing, I understand. Whatever directions the court gives we comply with them. Question My question is about the telephones numbers of Pakistani missions abroad on the website which are totally not responding. In many cases, we have been frequently asked by Pakistani community living abroad that these numbers are not responding. We have tried ourselves to call on these numbers especially in Jeddah Consulate and Pakistani embassy in Riyadh but there has been no answer. While, the message is that the number is not registered. So, whether any corrective measures are being taken? (Zarghoon Shah, GEO TV) Answer I would not agree that missions do not respond at all. There may be some issue with the numbers. This complaint will be conveyed to the concerned people in any case. Question There are also names of officers in missions abroad on the website that have been either transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or those diplomats might have got ambassadorial elevation. So, names of those diplomats are still mentioned on the website which creates confusion. So I think that website is not updated as far as numbers and names are concerned. Secondly, there are number of diplomatic positions in Pakistan’s missions abroad which are vacant. So would you like to tell us that when these positions are going to be filled or are summaries in process? (Mateen Haider-Dawn TV) Answer First about updating, I wish that network administrator was here. We are aware of the shortcomings and we will try to address them. As regard the summaries, as stated in the past, the procedure that announcements are made after the receipt of Agrément in case of ambassadorial postings and transfers. I cannot comment on which summaries are in the pipeline. Question I would like to ask you about the wall-chalking regarding Daish. There is news and police has also confirmed that there was wall-chalking in Peshawar, Lahore, Multan and Karachi and a booklet has also been distributed in Lahore on which IG has taken action, as well. Do you have any kind of information from where these people are entering Pakistan and would you like to share if you have some intelligence information or anything why Daish is active in Pakistan? (Saima Shabbir – Alajzeera TV) Answer Well, police has made arrests in connection with the wall-chalking. The investigations are underway about the motives and other aspects. I don’t have any information about any foreigner being under custody. Pakistan is taking comprehensive action against all terrorists. The determination to root out all terrorism has been clear at all levels. Question Ever since the former President Pervaiz Musharaf made a statement that there is a proxy war fear in Afghanistan between Pakistan and India this issue has been taken up by the Afghan President and former President Karazai also talked about it. New President Asharf Ghani has said that we would not allow proxy war. Whether Foreign Office fears there could be a proxy war between India and Pakistan? (Shauakat Piracha, AAJ TV) Answer We have been stating in unambiguous terms that we are with the people of Afghanistan. We strictly adhere to the policy of non-interference in Afghan affairs and we have emphasized that everyone should follow that policy. Pakistan is most affected by any instability in Afghanistan. We have been encouraged by statements from Afghan leadership that Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used against its neighbors and Afghanistan would not allow any proxy war on its territor
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:19:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015