ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Thursday firmly stated that it would take a sovereign decision as to when and where to undertake a military operation.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit, while responding to questions about possibility of a full-fledged operation in North Waziristan allegedly under pressure from the United States, said “Be it Tribal Areas or any other part, Pakistan will proceed in accordance with its own priorities and plans.”
Answering a question he said the United States has approached Pakistan for opening up of a Consulate in Quetta and the request is being processed.
He said Pakistan and the United States are working together to expedite issuance of visas. He clarified that except India there was no fixed quota for diplomatic presence of any country in Pakistan.
Pakistan and India have a mutual agreement about maximum number of personnel in their respective High Commissions in Islamabad and New Delhi, he added.
The spokesman said Pakistan strongly condemned publication of blasphemous caricatures of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) on the social network and website Facebook and Youtube.
He said such malicious and insulting contents hurt sentiments of Muslims around the world and cannot be accepted under the garb of freedom of expression.
Attacks on sacred religions, places, symbols and personalities are violations of fundamental rights and are not helpful for inter-faith harmony, he said.
He said Pakistan has always raised its voice against such incidents at all international fora, including the United Nations and OIC and during the course of bilateral interaction with various countries.
He said Pakistan has been calling for stern action to prohibit such acts that hurt feelings of Muslims.
He called upon the international community to address this issue as it is an extremely sensitive and emotional matter for Muslims across the world.
Replying to a question he held out assurance that Pakistan is making every effort to convey sentiments of the people to the Swedish and other governments.
Responding to another question he said the Swedish embassy in Islamabad was not closed.
The spokesman told a questioner that Pakistan has already communicated to India clearly indicating its intention to set up a court of arbitration on Kishan Ganga dispute as provided for under the dispute settlement mechanism of the Indus Basin Treaty.
He hoped that India would respond to the communication at the earliest so that Pakistan can proceed ahead to resolve the dispute amicably.
He said Pakistan and India need to build mutual trust and confidence. It is, therefore, necessary that they talk to each other with sincerity of purpose with a view to settling their differences and disputes, he added.
The spokesman said according to the list provided by India on first of January this year, there are 633 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails, including 509 civilians and 124 fishermen.
In response to humanitarian gesture of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani whereby 100 Indian fishermen were released in December last, India also released 31 Pakistan fishermen in January this year.
Seventeen civil prisoners were released by India in March following order of the Indian Supreme Court.? Now there are 585 Pakistani prisoners in India but the list provided by New Delhi doesn’t include names of 18 missing defence personnel of Pakistan.
He said since 2003, Pakistan has released about 3,000 Indian prisoners and India released 989 Pakistani prisoners.
Answering a question the spokesman said Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran M.B. Abbasi, who was injured in an attack recently, is OK and performing his duties. He said Pakistan is waiting for findings of Iranian investigations into the attack.
He hoped that presence of seven MPs of Pakistan origin in the British House of Common is a positive development and would help further strengthen relations between the two countries.
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