News
Friday, August 26, 2011
Operational details being worked out with US: FO* Says Foreign Ministry responsible for issuance of NOC for diplomats’ movement
* US diplomats not ordered to leave
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua, quoting Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, said on Thursday that that there were some operational details, which were being worked out between Pakistan and the US.
Giving weekly press briefing at the Foreign Office on Thursday, she said Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) regarding the movement of diplomats inside Pakistan. Commenting on restrictions and movement of foreign diplomats in Pakistan, the spokesperson said, “Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for addressing all the issues relating to the movement of diplomats.”
Replying to another question, the spokesperson denied issuing any orders to 200 US diplomats to leave Pakistan within next 30 days, adding that reports published in press in this regard were not correct. She said there were some concerns on both sides and these were being discussed.
The spokesperson said, “We continue to engage with the United States for building partnership for our shared goals.”
She said, “It remains our belief that this relationship is crucial for peace and stability of the entire region and beyond.”
“The realisation on both sides about the importance of this partnership and the need for it to be founded upon mutual trust and respect was fully acknowledged during the secretary of state’s conversation with the foreign minister over telephone a few days ago,” Tehmina added.
Replying to a question about latest situation in Libya and Pakistan’s response to it, the spokesperson said, “We are monitoring the situation in Libya. Our embassy in Tripoli is operational and watching the situation.”
She, however, said according to latest reports, all Pakistanis working in Libya were safe and the Foreign Office was in close contact with Pakistan’s embassy in Tripoli.
About hoisting of Libyan rebels’ flag at Libyan embassy’s building in Islamabad, the spokesperson said the Foreign Office had not received any official intimation in this regard.
Answering another question, the spokesperson said Pakistan and China had very deep-rooted relations and Pakistan was always happy with development in China. On human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and discovery of mass graves, the spokesperson said it was important that human rights should be respected in Indian occupied Kashmir and the crimes related to violation of human rights should be punished accordingly.
About the statement of Brahamdagh Bugti who is living in Switzerland, the spokesperson said Pakistan had already taken up Brahamdagh Bugti’s presence with the Swiss authorities.
The spokesperson said as part of regional outreach, President Asif Ali Zardari visited Bahrain on August 17 on the invitation of King Hammad bin Isa Al Khalifa. She said the two leaders held extensive and wide-ranging discussions during this visit.
“They agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations and consolidate cooperation in economic, trade and political fields,” she said, adding, “Regional and global developments were also discussed by the two leaders.”
“Pakistan’s relations with China are unique, longstanding, wide-ranging and multifaceted,” she added. The spokesperson said the foreign minister’s visit was yet another important landmark in the series of top level interactions which point to the robustness of Pak-China friendship and the commitment of both sides to invest in this relationship with ever greater substance. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk