ISLAMABAD: Commenting for the first time on the upheaval in Libya Pakistan on Thursday said that it would be a tragedy of horrific proportion to see a repeat of Somalia in Libya. It would not be in the interest of the world, the Islamic Ummah or the region, it said.
“It is unthinkable. It is a fact that, just like Pakistan and Afghanistan, there is a clan structure in Libya. The tribal factor is relevant to any outcome in Libya. It is for the Libyan people to re-establish their equilibrium. The tribal set-up has its advantages. Even when tribes disagree they find ways to find truce.
The international community has passed a resolution. Finally, what Pakistan wishes is peace and security and early normalcy”, said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir in a special briefing on Libya and the government’s relentless efforts to evacuate those Pakistanis in Libya who wish to return home.
This was also the first briefing by the new spokesperson Tehmina Janjua when the weekly briefing took place after a month. Salman Bashir who has had extensive meetings with the Libyan ambassador in Islamabad said that Pakistan had not offered comments on the Libyan situation because it was not required.
He said Pakistan was concerned at the rapid deteriorating security environment and wished the people of Libya peace and stability. “We have seen reports of ‘no fly zones’ and some forces moving to the Mediterranean. This is the internal political situation of Libya and Pakistan would not like to offer any comments. We wish peace and stability for Libya, as we are mindful of the Libyan history. There are strategic implications for the region and for the world. It is a complex issue but the people of Libya will find their own equilibrium”, added Bashir.
He said that there should be respect for international norms and it is for the people of Libya to decide. There are principals and norms and Pakistan believes that these should be upheld. “If the UN Security Council takes a decision then it is binding upon us”, said Bashir.
Evacuation of Pakistanis: The foreign secretary said that this is an emergency situation and the top priority for Pakistan is the safe evacuation of its nationals from Libya. “The most pressing issue for us is the question of the safety and well-being of our nationals. We have concerns for their well-being. Given the overall security situation in Libya we have been as careful and cautious as possible so as not to send signals, which would make life more difficult for the Pakistanis. We are not sending a message that everyone should leave. Situation is different in different regions”, said Bashir.
While Turkish companies employing Pakistanis have evacuated them, the secretary said it was deplorable that Pakistani companies have abandoned the Pakistani workers. He said though it was difficult to state at this time the cost that the government will have to incur on evacuating its nationals, it has been decided at the highest level that no cost was too great to bring home those Pakistanis who want to return for safety reasons.
He said that all three options of air, land and sea were examined and several Pakistanis have left by sea and land while Pakistani aircraft await landing rights to bring back those stranded in Tripoli. Some 2000 Pakistanis can return by these aircraft.
Now only land and air options are being examined with hundreds of Pakistanis having left by land routes. Prominent people in different areas in Libya are working as team leaders and sending information to the Foreign Office about the Pakistanis in their areas who wish to leave.
Pakistanis reaching special camps set up for them at border crossing areas are being provided with all amenities including passports, as many have no travelling documents. The government has been in touch with the authorities in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Turkey.
“We are operating under difficult conditions. The Foreign Office and ministries of defence and interior are working together as it is our duty to our nationals abroad. But given the situation we realise that it would be impossible to satisfy every individual. We may not come up to their expectations”, he added.
Raymond Davis: The foreign secretary said ‘the Raymond Davis issue is in focus and in our interaction with the US it has surfaced promptly. To conclude that there is damage to our relations is premature. We at the Foreign Office must ensure that the Davis issue does not cast a shadow on our bilateral relations. This is also the case at the State Department”.
He said that the Davis case is a complex issue and sub judice. “March 14 is still a few days away, so be patient. The Foreign Office is aware of its constitutional, institutional, legal responsibilities, and international obligations under Pakistan’s laws. We believe in the rule of law and justice”, he added.
To a query he said that so far the Foreign Office has not been told to say anything on the issue of immunity by the courts in Pakistan. “There is a process. Any matter, which comes to the court’s attention, rules of business dictate and the federation responds. There is good reason for our silence”, explained Bashir.
India: Pakistan says it received on Wednesday communication from India regarding permission for a Pakistani commission to visit India to investigate into the Mumbai attacks. “We received a communication from India yesterday. It has been forwarded to the Interior Ministry and experts are looking at the contents of the letter,” spokesperson at the Foreign Office said.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram had told the media that his government was waiting for Pakistan’s response to a request for an Indian team to question those Pakistanis allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks.
Mr. Chidambaram also said India was awaiting a reply from Pakistan to its request to allow a team to question some persons in Pakistan suspected of involvement in the Mumbai attacks. The spokesperson also announced that the home and interior secretaries of India and Pakistan would meet in Delhi on March 28-29 as part of the process of resuming dialogue between the two countries. The officials will discuss counter-terrorism efforts, steps to curb the smuggling of narcotics and humanitarian issues, she said.
“It is unthinkable. It is a fact that, just like Pakistan and Afghanistan, there is a clan structure in Libya. The tribal factor is relevant to any outcome in Libya. It is for the Libyan people to re-establish their equilibrium. The tribal set-up has its advantages. Even when tribes disagree they find ways to find truce.
The international community has passed a resolution. Finally, what Pakistan wishes is peace and security and early normalcy”, said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir in a special briefing on Libya and the government’s relentless efforts to evacuate those Pakistanis in Libya who wish to return home.
This was also the first briefing by the new spokesperson Tehmina Janjua when the weekly briefing took place after a month. Salman Bashir who has had extensive meetings with the Libyan ambassador in Islamabad said that Pakistan had not offered comments on the Libyan situation because it was not required.
He said Pakistan was concerned at the rapid deteriorating security environment and wished the people of Libya peace and stability. “We have seen reports of ‘no fly zones’ and some forces moving to the Mediterranean. This is the internal political situation of Libya and Pakistan would not like to offer any comments. We wish peace and stability for Libya, as we are mindful of the Libyan history. There are strategic implications for the region and for the world. It is a complex issue but the people of Libya will find their own equilibrium”, added Bashir.
He said that there should be respect for international norms and it is for the people of Libya to decide. There are principals and norms and Pakistan believes that these should be upheld. “If the UN Security Council takes a decision then it is binding upon us”, said Bashir.
Evacuation of Pakistanis: The foreign secretary said that this is an emergency situation and the top priority for Pakistan is the safe evacuation of its nationals from Libya. “The most pressing issue for us is the question of the safety and well-being of our nationals. We have concerns for their well-being. Given the overall security situation in Libya we have been as careful and cautious as possible so as not to send signals, which would make life more difficult for the Pakistanis. We are not sending a message that everyone should leave. Situation is different in different regions”, said Bashir.
While Turkish companies employing Pakistanis have evacuated them, the secretary said it was deplorable that Pakistani companies have abandoned the Pakistani workers. He said though it was difficult to state at this time the cost that the government will have to incur on evacuating its nationals, it has been decided at the highest level that no cost was too great to bring home those Pakistanis who want to return for safety reasons.
He said that all three options of air, land and sea were examined and several Pakistanis have left by sea and land while Pakistani aircraft await landing rights to bring back those stranded in Tripoli. Some 2000 Pakistanis can return by these aircraft.
Now only land and air options are being examined with hundreds of Pakistanis having left by land routes. Prominent people in different areas in Libya are working as team leaders and sending information to the Foreign Office about the Pakistanis in their areas who wish to leave.
Pakistanis reaching special camps set up for them at border crossing areas are being provided with all amenities including passports, as many have no travelling documents. The government has been in touch with the authorities in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Turkey.
“We are operating under difficult conditions. The Foreign Office and ministries of defence and interior are working together as it is our duty to our nationals abroad. But given the situation we realise that it would be impossible to satisfy every individual. We may not come up to their expectations”, he added.
Raymond Davis: The foreign secretary said ‘the Raymond Davis issue is in focus and in our interaction with the US it has surfaced promptly. To conclude that there is damage to our relations is premature. We at the Foreign Office must ensure that the Davis issue does not cast a shadow on our bilateral relations. This is also the case at the State Department”.
He said that the Davis case is a complex issue and sub judice. “March 14 is still a few days away, so be patient. The Foreign Office is aware of its constitutional, institutional, legal responsibilities, and international obligations under Pakistan’s laws. We believe in the rule of law and justice”, he added.
To a query he said that so far the Foreign Office has not been told to say anything on the issue of immunity by the courts in Pakistan. “There is a process. Any matter, which comes to the court’s attention, rules of business dictate and the federation responds. There is good reason for our silence”, explained Bashir.
India: Pakistan says it received on Wednesday communication from India regarding permission for a Pakistani commission to visit India to investigate into the Mumbai attacks. “We received a communication from India yesterday. It has been forwarded to the Interior Ministry and experts are looking at the contents of the letter,” spokesperson at the Foreign Office said.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram had told the media that his government was waiting for Pakistan’s response to a request for an Indian team to question those Pakistanis allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks.
Mr. Chidambaram also said India was awaiting a reply from Pakistan to its request to allow a team to question some persons in Pakistan suspected of involvement in the Mumbai attacks. The spokesperson also announced that the home and interior secretaries of India and Pakistan would meet in Delhi on March 28-29 as part of the process of resuming dialogue between the two countries. The officials will discuss counter-terrorism efforts, steps to curb the smuggling of narcotics and humanitarian issues, she said.
Source: The News
