July 03, 2015
News
‘No contact made for Pak-India PM-level meeting in Russia’
* FO spokesperson says Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to friendly ties with all its neighbours g Non-interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan is the key pillar of Pakistan’s Afghan policy
By Ijaz KakakhelISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah on Thursday has said that no contact has been made between Pakistan and India regarding meeting of both Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Russia.
He expressed these views in a weekly briefing at the FO. He said that meeting between the two leaders at international conferences is a usual matter, however, there had been no contact between India and Pakistan regarding a meeting in Russia.
Answering a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to friendly ties with all its neighbours, especially Afghanistan, and stability in the region. He said Pakistan would continue to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. “Peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s best interest. Non-interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan is the key pillar of Pakistan’s Afghan policy,” he said. “The two sides are constructively engaging to rebuild mutual trust and understanding.”
Qazi said Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are cooperating to counter terrorism. While speaking on the issue of peace talks in relation to the Afghan crisis, he said Pakistan was facilitating talks between the Afghan Taliban and their government. He also said that China had expressed deep interest in peace and stability in Afghanistan. Last month, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz had told the first ever meeting of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee at Parliament House that Pakistan was ready to play any possible role in the reopening of dialogue between Afghan Taliban and the Afghan government whereever it is being planned, he added.
Replying a question, the spokesperson rejected Afghanistan’s claim that a gate on the Pak-Afghan border is being constructed on the Afghan side. He clarified that the gate was being constructed on the Pakistani side of the Angoor Adda border in South Waziristan.
Two soldiers were wounded on Wednesday night when the Afghan National Army fired at the Pakistan Army’s position in Angoor Adda. An Afghan border guard was killed in exchange of fire.
“We have said on a number of occasions that Pakistan has been facilitating the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, which is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. China also has interest in peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Qazi said. To another question, he said that visit of the Afghan interior minister was postponed because of the security situation in Afghanistan.
While answering a question about Pakistan Permanent Ambassador to the United National (UN) Maleeha Lodhi’s arrival in Pakistan, he said that she has come on a usual routine visit. He said that officials are in contact with Saudi authorities for having counsellor’s access to Zaid Hamid. Earlier, Hamid was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and eight years in prison for criticising the Saudi government.
Discussing the killing of Pakistani citizen Waheed Noor Khan in India, the FO spokesperson said that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had approached the Indian Ministry of External Affairs for details of the incident. Khan and his remains were handed over to Pakistani authorities last week at the Wagah border.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk