ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Thursday that the blame game on the issue of Pathankot incident was unfortunate and unhelpful and the modalities of Joint Investigation Team’s visit to India were being finalized.
“Pakistan took all necessary measures on the basis of preliminary information provided by India regarding Pathankot terrorist attack. JIT has been formed and modalities are being worked out for the visit of the team to India. Cooperation and understanding is the need of the hour,” the Spokesperson said addressing the weekly press briefing here at Foreign Office.
He said Pakistan believed that all nations needed to cooperate with each other to defeat the menace of terrorism and that Pakistan condemned the incident.
He said both sides were working to finalize the dates of the Foreign Secretary-level talks and reiterated Indian High Commissioner’s policy statement that the two things were not linked.
The Spokesperson mentioned 6th Round of Ministerial Level Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and the United States held this week in Washington. Adviser to PM Sartaj Aziz and Secretary of State Senator John Kerry, led their respective sides.
He said Prime Minister’s visit to the US in October last gave fresh impetus and direction to the multi-dimensional relationship between Pakistan and the US.
He said the spirit behind the dialogue, particularly of the 6th round was encapsulated in the sentiments expressed by Senator John Kerry.
“Expanding and deepening our relationship has long been a personal commitment of mine. Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act was aimed at lasting cooperation between the US and Pakistan, between businesses and universities and citizens. The strategic dialogue is totally in keeping with this kind of broad-based partnership and designed to advance it.”
He told media that 7th round of the Ministerial Dialogue would take place in 2017.
To a question, he said Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence was to deter any aggression against Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
“It is for the defence of Pakistan and its people. As a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan has invested in ensuring nuclear safety, nuclear security and robust command and control system,” the Spokesperson remarked.
He said the Prime Minister would also attend the forthcoming Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in March that would be the fourth of its kind.
Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan had underscored and worked to ensure that the world community recognized that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and that the mainstreaming of Pakistan’s nuclear program through inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was the right step.
About terror attacks in Afghanistan, he said Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Responding to another question, the Spokesperson said the Foreign Secretary had written to the Indian Foreign Secretary regarding evidence required for the Mumbai trials. These were those pieces of evidence, which Pakistan had asked for earlier also.
He said at the last meeting in Kabul on February 23, Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) countries had agreed to continue joint efforts for direct peace talks between Afghan Government and Taliban Groups expected to take place by first week of March.
“It is a shared responsibility of all the four countries. So far, we do not have any confirmation of the dates of the talks. The efforts are on,” he said.
Asked whether Iranian President was due in Islamabad, he said Prime Minister Nawaz paid a bilateral visit to Iran and had extended invitation to the Iranian President to visit Pakistan. A return visit of their leadership is contemplated, he added.
Answering another question, the Spokesperson said the government had not forgotten the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui at all.
“We take it up with the United States. Our Embassy in Washington extends consular assistance to her. You may be aware that there is a case going on in the court over here,” he remarked.
He said Pakistan strongly believed in people-to-people contact and sports afforded an opportunity to that end. Pakistan’s cricket team would participate in the T20 World Cup and it was the responsibility of the Indian Government to provide them security.
