Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday made it clear that to carry out operation against extremists anywhere inside its territories would be the country’s sovereign decision.
Responding to questions about much publicized US claim that Pakistan had given commitment to carry out military operation in North Waziristan, Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said "priorities in war against terrorism are up to government to decide.
"Pakistan is fighting the war against terrorism for its own national interest and priorities in it are to be decided by the government accordingly as well as independent of any pressure whatsoever in this regard," she said.
On question of Pakistan- US joint hunt for militants on Pakistani soil, she said she could not go into detail but it was already in public knowledge that the two had an agreement on jointly fighting common enemy besides intelligence sharing. Answering question of sovereignty arising out of the notion of US forces operating in Pakistan, though besides local forces, she said, "sovereignty is dearest to the government more than anything. And intelligence sharing for instance does not require any foreign forces Pak soil," she rushed to add.
Regarding questions on David Hedley under judicial in Chicago she said that US has not given access to Pakistan and the issue is subjudice in US court.
She strongly condemned the tragic killing of Syed Saleem Shahzad adding he was a courageous and hard working journalist “our prayers and sympathies are with his family. We expect the perpetrators of this terrible crime will be brought to justice at the earliest”.
In response to another question on Commerce delegation that was in Kabul for the last few days in connection with the finalization of the implementation details of the new Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTA) Talks, she opine that it was held in a constructive manner.
She said that Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Lodin will visit Pakistan from June 5-7. The visit will be a continuation of the process of consultation of bilateral matters and issues of regional peace and security.
In response to another query, FO spokesperson said that President Asif Ali Zardari will attend the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan on June 15.
She went on to say that President’s participation signals the importance Pakistan attaches to the SCO and our keen interest in working the regional development agenda which includes building commerce, financial, banking and corporate sector interactions.
The Special Envoy of the Russian President for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov was in Pakistan and he had excellent talks with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Secretary on bilateral and regional security issues, she underlined.
She said that Pakistan will attend the ASDEM in Budapest on June 6-7.
Answering volleys of questions, Foreign Office spokesperson again made it clear that our dialogue process with India is going according to schedule and we are in the process of finalizing dates for the Foreign Secretary level talks on peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and friendly exchanges in this regard.
The recent visit of the Defense Secretary to India was very constructive adding both sides agreed to engage on the Siachen issue, she concluded. Online
