PNS,
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : April 27 (PNS) – Pakistan Monday said the reconciliation achieved with the tribesmen in South Waziristan would not dilute its commitment to eliminate terrorism from its soil. “There has been reconciliation in Wana (region's administrative headquarters) and that has been achieved through mutual consultation and negotiation,” Foreign Office spokesman said to a question at a weekly briefing here.
He added:”War on terrorism continues and there is no dilution in Pakistan's commitment to eliminate terrorism from its soil.” To a question, he said that there has been “ball parking” figure vis-a-vis presence of foreign militants in South Waziristan. Responding to a question about India holding talks with one faction of the APHC, the spokesman said it was Pakistan's sincere desire to associate the true representatives of Kashmiri's when the engagement between Islamabad and New Delhi acquired some “certainty and definite direction”.
“So that their association with this (dialogue) process is productive and they contribute to the process and in the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” he added. Khan said, as Pakistan and India move along, they should engage the Kashmiris as ultimately the fate of Kashmiris and their political future has to be addressed. Khan dispelled the impression that by talking with one faction of the Kashmiri people, India was excluding Pakistan from the process.
He said, there had been such an impression in the past but that was not happening now. Khan said despite India having talks with one faction of the Kashmiri people, both Pakistan and India were going to have a series of talks in May-June through August this year on all outstanding issues including the core Kashmir dispute. On the boycott of elections by the Kashmirs, the Spokesman said that the people have given response voluntarily.
“We hope that when foreign secretaries meet in May and June and the composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India picks up momentum, we have a breakthrough and we come out of the cycle of elections and so on…we have some concrete results as a process of dialogue,” he added. Responding to a question, the Spokesman said Pakistan was not opposed to the proposed resolution on nuclear non-proliferation that was being negotiated and discussed in the UN Security Council.
“We have constructive engagement with the permanent five (P-5) and the principal sponsors of the resolutions – the US and the UK. Pakistan, he said, was also consulting with the non-permanent members and non-aligned countries on the issue. However, he said, Pakistan had some questions and concerns and it was trying to address them in consultation with all members of the UN Security Council.
These concerns, he said, related to application of Chapter 7 of the Charter, creation of a Committee as a follow-up of mechanism, and the definition of non-state actors. “We agree with the general thrust of the resolution…Pakistan is against nuclear proliferation and we would like to cooperate in this process,” he added.
The Foreign Offices spokesman, while responding to a question, said Pakistan and India have made a mutual pledge to follow up the process of negotiations. “Pakistan and India should remain committed to the process of dialogue, process of producing results so that we can have a result-oriented process,” he added. Khan said Pakistan was committed to the process and it would honour its obligations.
On the delay in talks on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, the Spokesman said the two sides were in touch and the cancellation of talks on proposed dates were due to scheduling problem. He, however, said that there were some aspects being discussed and the two sides would be in a position to hold the talks, once that process was completed. To a question, Khan said, Pakistan, India and the United States have been consulting on the situation in South Asia but he denied Washington having sent any “solid proposals” to the two countries.
“There is a behind-the-scene consultation going on for years. The US is not playing any direct role,” he added. The Spokesman to a question said Osama bin Laden or extradition of suspected terrorists did not figure during talks between Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and his Yemeni counterpart, currently visiting Pakistan. To a question on the construction of Baghliar dam, Khan said both Pakistan and India have the option to go to a neutral expert on the issue.
He said the two countries had difference of opinion and holding talks on the matter. Khan said Pakistan had a number of options and has the right to exercise them. The spokesman rejected as “totally unsubstantiated and baseless” the remarks Benazir Bhutto reportedly made to an Australian Broadcasting Corp about Dr. Qadeer Khan in an interview. The spokesman said that Dr. Khan did not make illegal transfer under government instructions.”No past or present government has been involved in the transfer,” he added. Khan said there was a small network of individuals involved in such transfers which has been effectively demobilised and dismantled.
