ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Abdul Basit said there are problems in Pakistan-US relations and both sides are working to overcome current difficulties in bilateral ties.
Briefing media representatives here on Thursday, Abdul Basit discussed various foreign policy issues concerning India, Iran, Saudia Arabia, United Kingdom, United States and Indonesia.
The spokesperson said interactions between the US and Pakistan are aimed at discussing all issues threadbare and to see how to address present difficulties.
However, he said everything hinges on what final policy guidelines we get from the parliament and all are waiting for this process to complete.
He said once parliament completes the process, we would take it from there. The spokesperson said Pakistan and the United States attach importance to this relationship.
About expansion in US embassy in Islamabad, the spokesperson said we are in touch with all the relevant departments.
To a question, Abdul Basit said there is no pressure from the on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
He said ongoing discussions with Saudi Arabia are on bilateral cooperation including in the field of energy.
Answering a question, he said we are in touch with our Mission in Jakarta and according to our initial information; there is no Pakistani in those areas which was hit by earthquake. He said there is no need to worry about it.
To a question about the need to resolve Siachen issue following Gayari incident, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said Pakistan always maintains that all issues between Pakistan and India including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved through dialogue.
He said Siachen and Sir Creek issues are part of dialogue process going on between the two countries.
He hoped that this dialogue process will be move forward.
When his attention was drawn towards meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said both the leaders reiterated the mutual desire to have a pragmatic and practical dialogue process and move forward towards resolving the issues continue to bedeviling relations.
He hopes that the meeting will help push the dialogue process forward, the spokesperson added.
He however said effectiveness of any dialogue process hinges on its results.
Answering a question, the spokesperson said nuclear deterrence is integral to our security calculus.
He said Pakistan would continue to maintain credible deterrence at the minimum possible level.
Replying to a question, he said Pakistan has received an invitation for Chigao Summit on Afghanistan, Abdul Basit said no decision has yet been made whether to attend it or not.
He said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will undertake a visit to the United Kingdom in the second week of next month for the first annual review of the enhanced strategic dialogue between the two countries.
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