News
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Pak-US working to resolve issue of drone strikes bilaterally: FO* Spokesman says strategic talks between Pakistan and US are likely to resume soon
By Imdad Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday said Washington and Islamabad are working to work out an acceptable solution to drone strikes.
In a weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan said that Islamabad was engaging US officials at various levels and different proposals were being considered to reach some mutually acceptable solution to drone strikes.
Pakistan was positive and was very clear that drone attacks were unproductive, illegal and violation of “our sovereignty and integrity” and in contradiction to international laws, he added.
To a question as what Pakistan would do after drone are not stopped despite repeated protest by Pakistan, he said that Pakistani and the US officials are trying to develop some understanding and other options are available.
He said that options in this connection could not be revealed, but Pakistan was seeking a bilateral solution in this regard. To a question, the spokesman said that Pakistan had nothing to do with the operation of drones.
When asked about Karzai’s recent allegations regarding attacks in Afghanistan, he said Afghanistan was a huge country and had a lot of neighbours and Karzai never mentioned a country specifically. The spokesman said nobody would be allowed to use Pakistani land against any country. He said Pakistan was not involved in attacks on NATO forces inside Afghanistan. He said Pakistan and Afghanistan were engaged in constructive matters, adding, “We have a desire to address all issues mutually.”
The spokesman referred to recently friendly meeting of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf with Karzai in Kabul and meeting with him of President Asif Ali Zardari in Saudi Arabia and said that the two countries enjoyed close ties and all issues would be addressed by joint efforts.
To a question, Khan said the strategic talks between Pakistan and the US were expected to resume this year.
To another question about the expected book by US writer Richard Miniter about the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the spokesman said, “Let the book be published and we cannot comment on speculations, as it is too early.”
Referring to former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani’s comments for downgrading Pak-US ties, he said it was Haqqani’s personal point of view but the government of Pakistan’s stance was different. About the border incursions by the militants and attack on checkposts near Afghanistan, the spokesman asked the Afghan government to “do something to stop them”.
He said, “We have a will and a determination that no militant would be allowed to use our territory for terrorism.”
About a question regarding Pakistani pilgrims being jailed in Saudi Arabia, the spokesman said, “We are in contact with the Saudi authorities and soon a meeting will place in this regard.”Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk