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Pakistan taking effective measures to fight terrorism: FO
APP
ISLAMABAD - Paksitan on Thursday said that it was taking effective measures to fight terrorism and seeking cooperation from the International community to curb the menace. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam in her weekly briefing said that Pakistan was cooperating with international community in its fight against terrorism and before putting allegation on it there should be thorough investigation into any incident of terrorism. She said that no country could fight terrorism alone and the international community should join hands to fight the scourge. The spokesperson said that regarding terrorism, Pakistan had its own concerns while India had its own and the issues need to be tackled with cooperation. Replying to a question, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s position to extend cooperation in Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process. About the presence of American forces in Afghanistan beyond 2016, the spokesperson said that the Afghan government has to decide about the presence of foreign troops in their country and how they want the cooperation. Replying to a question about future cooperation between Pakistan and United States regarding assistance to Pakistan, the spokesperson said that the Obama Administration has given its budgetary proposals to the Congress. She said, “We understand that the total assistance for Pakistan proposed in the State Department budget is $803.8 million and it includes assistance requests for economic, security and other areas.” The spokesperson said that it may be noted that these numbers only form the budget request by the administration and relation to fiscal 2015-16. She said the Congress will hold budget hearings to assess administration’s policy and programs and Congressional appropriations and authorisation bills will be enacted and the Congress can make changes in the administration’s budget request. She said that Pakistan was playing a key role in the efforts against terrorism which must be acknowledged by the international community. “We believe that our friends, including the US, provide the necessary support required for Pakistan to continue to play this central role in an effective manner,” she said. Replying to a question, the spokesperson said the foreign secretary level talks between Pakistan and India held here at Islamabad could not be characterised as failure. She said that the meeting of the two foreign secretaries lead to discussions and resumption of dialogue process, as these talks were held in a constructive and positive atmosphere. Replying to a question about the recent visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia on the invitation of King Salman, the spokesperson said that the visit was aimed at further promoting the existing bilateral and brotherly relations between the two countries. She said that the visit will help in further enhancing ties especially in the fields of energy, trade and security. Replying to a question about the demand from Iran to hand over an Iranian arrested in Quetta, the spokesperson said that there are media reports that Abdul Sattar Raigi, an Iranian national had been arrested on February 28. These media reports were not confirmed so far and the government was trying to confirm these reports, she said. About the arrest of an Afghan diplomat in Peshawar, the spokesperson clarified that under National Action Plan (NAP), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had introduced new tenant laws and now tenats record is required to be provided to the police. She said that during routine checking the police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa detained Afghan diplomat who had not registered himself with the local police station under new tenant laws but after verification the diplomat was released immediately. The spokesperson said, under new laws, all the diplomats are being advised to provide their whereabouts and register themselves with the local police stations. Replying to another question the spokesperson said that Pakistan had always stood for unity of Muslim Ummah never considering a sect.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk