ISLAMABAD, March 5: Amid an international clamour over hot pursuits inside its territory, Pakistan on Monday sent out a stern warning that any aggression across its borders or across the Line of Control would be countered effectively.
“There should be no doubt in any one’s mind that any attempt to indulge in hot pursuits would receive a befitting response. Everyone should know that we have the capability and determination to deal with such threats and defend our borders,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam categorically stated while responding to a question at a weekly news briefing here.
She said this when her attention was drawn to a statement by the Indian defence minister that India would chase any misadventure from the soil of Pakistan.
While noting that the veracity of the statement needed to be checked, she said if indeed such a statement had been made, it could only be described as ‘irresponsible’ and cautioned: “Such statements militate against the efforts by the two governments to improve the environment.”
PAKISTAN-US TALKS: The spokesperson said the second round of Pakistan-US strategic dialogue would take place in Islamabad probably during this month.
When asked how she would characterise Pakistan-US relations at this juncture, her response was: “The relationship has come a long way. There is a desire on both sides to make it broad-based, durable and there are a number of initiatives and efforts on both sides to make it that.”
Acknowledging that in the past there had been ‘ups and down’, she noted: “There is this realisation that whenever our relations have been less cooperative, both sides have paid a price for that. So there is a sustained effort to make it a long-term, durable relationship and both countries are committed to that.”
Responding to another query regarding the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism, she said it was a common cause, adding: “It’s a partnership, it’s not an adversarial relationship.”
AFGHANISTAN: Hitting back at the Afghan criticism of Pakistan, Ms Aslam said that Pakistan itself was a victim of terrorism, especially terrorism which had sprouted in Afghanistan.
“Afghan conflict has caused disturbance in our society, in particular in the tribal areas of Pakistan. We are now engaged in a prolonged and sustained fight against terrorism,” she noted.
Emphasising that in fighting terrorism, Pakistan’s preoccupation was not economic assistance but first and foremost is its national interest, she said: “In this fight we are being provided some assistance from other countries but it is for a common cause.”
Underscoring that the problem could be addressed through greater cooperation between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nato, Isaf and everybody on the Afghan side, she said: “We also expect that we would be given information and actionable intelligence so that we can thwart the efforts of terrorists who cross over from Afghanistan into Pakistan.”
She declined to confirm the report of former Taliban leader Mullah Obaidullah’s arrest in Quetta and simply said: “I cannot confirm that.”
IRAN: Dispelling the impression that the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of seven Muslim countries and the OIC secretary-general in Islamabad was directed against Iran, the spokesperson stated: “Any suggestion that this initiative could be against Iran is not correct, it’s absurd.” In this context she mentioned the joint statement issued after the meeting that very clearly and forcefully rejected the use of force against Iran.
She said the meeting took place as a follow-up to the president’s visit to a number of Middle Eastern and Muslim countries, including Iran. She said Iran had been consulted on the Middle East peace initiative and kept in the picture throughout. She explained that the group of seven countries had similar views especially on Palestine and therefore it was felt that the group could act as a facilitator and engage with all relevant parties to help in resolution of issues, reduction of tension and de-escalation and it could also bring harmony in the Islamic world.
She maintained that the association of the OIC secretary-general with the meeting underlined the fact that the approach of the group was consistent with the OIC position on these issues.
Replying to another question, she said Pakistan welcomed the meeting between the Iranian and the Saudi leaders, saying: “This will bring down tensions in the Gulf. We specially welcome their statement about promoting unity among the Muslim countries.”
She recalled that this was a very important element of President Musharraf’s Middle East peace initiative.
ATTACK: In response to a question about apprehensions regarding American attack on Iran, Ms Aslam said: “We hope that there would be no military action because any such step would have disastrous consequences economically and politically for the entire region and also for Pakistan.”
Reiterating Pakistan’s position, she added: “We are against the use of force or even threat of use of force against Iran. We want this matter to be resolved diplomatically through negotiations peacefully.”
PRISONERS: Referring to the complaints about mistreatment of Indian prisoners who returned from Pakistan, the spokesperson was quick to point to the condition of the Pakistani prisoners who had lost their mental balance because of torture in Indian jails.
Asserting that Pakistan considered it a humanitarian issue and had always favoured greater attention to the plight of prisoners, she said: “Unfortunately we have not received the kind of cooperation we expected from India on this issue.”
About demilitarisation of Kashmir, she said: “There are ideas which are being discussed. These ideas have generated a lot of resonance among Kashmiris, they are discussing it and they are interested in it.” However, she opted not to go into the specifics of it.
When asked about the government’s expectations from the first meeting of the Pakistan-India joint anti-terrorism mechanism, she left it at: “We are approaching it with a positive frame of mind.”
She told a questioner that it was not appropriate to go into the specifics of what would be discussed.
However, she said Pakistan did expect the Indian side to share information with it on the Samjhota Express terrorist attack.
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