ISLAMABAD: Senate standing committee on foreign affairs has directed
that control of Shamsi airbase be taken over from US immediately adding
US is using this base presently and India can also use it in coming
days to serve its interests .
Committee met here Friday in parliament house under its chairman senator Salim Saifullah.
Committee
said the performance of interior ministry and foreign ministry is
disappointing in issuance of visas to US citizens. Both the ministries
issued the visas without conducting any verification. Committee
recommended that visas to US nationals be issued by foreign ministry
instead of interior ministry and defence ministry.
State
minister for foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar told the committee US
suspended the aid of 500 million dollars after 500 US trainers were
sent back from Pakistan. 200 million dollars under US Coalition Support
Fund would soon be provided to Pakistan, she pointed out.
She
stated talks with India were heading towards right direction. Pakistan
wanted constructive and positive dialogue with India on all issues, she
held.
She also gave briefing to the committee about foreign
secretary level talks between Pakistan and India and apprised the
committee of the progress achieved so far in the talks process. Online
