ISLAMABAD :
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir will lead Pakistan’s delegation to “Trilateral
Meeting” of senior officials of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States
which will be held early next week in Kabul to discuss issues of peace and
reconciliation in Afghanistan. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janjua told a
weekly briefing here on Saturday, “We continue our endeavours to deepen
engagement with Afghanistan.”Referring to Pakistan’s engagements with other
countries in the region, the spokesperson said, “We are also working for
result-oriented and meaningful dialogue with India.”
She said that the
resumption of the dialogue process with India had led to substantive engagement
at secretaries level on matters of counter-terrorism, commerce and trade and
Wullar/water issues.
She said talks on Sir Creek started on Friday and concluded on Saturday. “We are pursuing the talks in an open and constructive manner to achieve a result-oriented process of engagement,” she added.
The spokesperson said, “Pakistan’s engagement in its immediate region as well as with important stakeholders of the international system continues.”
“This multi-track engagement is designed to safeguard our national interests as well as hold consultations with key partners, all neighbours,major powers and important global actors,” she said.
The spokesperson said that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar participated in the ministerial conference on “Global Governance and Security Council Reform” in Rome on May 16.
“We also participated in the recently held senior officials meeting of the OIC in Jeddah,” she added.
She said Pakistan would actively participate in the NAM Ministerial Conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia, on May 25-27. The meeting would mark the commemoration of 50th anniversary of the establishment of NAM.
Replying to a question regarding impact of the President’s Moscow visit and Prime Minister Gilani’s China visit on on Pak-US relations, the spokesperson said each relationship, whether with the US or China or Russia, is a stand-alone relationship.
She said, “Each has its own merits and value. Pakistan seeks excellent relations with all.”
She said Pakistan-China relations have a long and glorious history and a bright future.
“We seek to build quality relations with Russia and the US based on equality, mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual trust,” she added.
She said that President Asif Ali Zardari during recent visit to Moscow had detailed and comprehensive discussions with the Russian leadership.
To a question , she said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to visit Pakistan but the date of her visit has not yet been decided.
On the issue of drone attacks she said, “We continue to discuss all the issues with the US.”
She said, “We have very clearly told the US that these (drone attacks) are definitely not acceptable. We need to move away from unilateral actions towards cooperation which serves the interest of countering terrorism.”
Regarding a list given by India to Pakistan of 50 most wanted terrorists allegedly hiding here, she said, “it’s an Indian list and the Indians can put any name they want on it”. She said Pakistan would consider any such issue with great seriousness.
Replying to another question, she said, “Pakistan is fighting terrorism for its own sake. There is consensus among the people of Pakistan that we have to pursue this fight ourselves. Pakistan in undertaking the fight against terrorism will have to take into account its national interests and priorities and it was recognized in the joint statement issued on Senator Kerry’s recent visit to Pakistan.”
She said, “Pakistan will continue fight against terrorism in accordance with its national interests and priorities.” APP
She said talks on Sir Creek started on Friday and concluded on Saturday. “We are pursuing the talks in an open and constructive manner to achieve a result-oriented process of engagement,” she added.
The spokesperson said, “Pakistan’s engagement in its immediate region as well as with important stakeholders of the international system continues.”
“This multi-track engagement is designed to safeguard our national interests as well as hold consultations with key partners, all neighbours,major powers and important global actors,” she said.
The spokesperson said that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar participated in the ministerial conference on “Global Governance and Security Council Reform” in Rome on May 16.
“We also participated in the recently held senior officials meeting of the OIC in Jeddah,” she added.
She said Pakistan would actively participate in the NAM Ministerial Conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia, on May 25-27. The meeting would mark the commemoration of 50th anniversary of the establishment of NAM.
Replying to a question regarding impact of the President’s Moscow visit and Prime Minister Gilani’s China visit on on Pak-US relations, the spokesperson said each relationship, whether with the US or China or Russia, is a stand-alone relationship.
She said, “Each has its own merits and value. Pakistan seeks excellent relations with all.”
She said Pakistan-China relations have a long and glorious history and a bright future.
“We seek to build quality relations with Russia and the US based on equality, mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual trust,” she added.
She said that President Asif Ali Zardari during recent visit to Moscow had detailed and comprehensive discussions with the Russian leadership.
To a question , she said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to visit Pakistan but the date of her visit has not yet been decided.
On the issue of drone attacks she said, “We continue to discuss all the issues with the US.”
She said, “We have very clearly told the US that these (drone attacks) are definitely not acceptable. We need to move away from unilateral actions towards cooperation which serves the interest of countering terrorism.”
Regarding a list given by India to Pakistan of 50 most wanted terrorists allegedly hiding here, she said, “it’s an Indian list and the Indians can put any name they want on it”. She said Pakistan would consider any such issue with great seriousness.
Replying to another question, she said, “Pakistan is fighting terrorism for its own sake. There is consensus among the people of Pakistan that we have to pursue this fight ourselves. Pakistan in undertaking the fight against terrorism will have to take into account its national interests and priorities and it was recognized in the joint statement issued on Senator Kerry’s recent visit to Pakistan.”
She said, “Pakistan will continue fight against terrorism in accordance with its national interests and priorities.” APP
