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Peace treaty in tribal areas yielding results: FO
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said that the current developments in North Waziristan speak volumes about success of the peace deal with tribal elders.
Responding to a question at the weekly news briefing here Monday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said the impact of the deal should be quite obvious to all those who had any doubts about it.
She pointed out that during the last few days, local tribesmen have taken on the foreigners who are coming from across the border and creating problems for Pakistan and people of the area.
This shows success of the strategy that the Government has adopted to deal with the situation. Replying to another question the spokesperson said Pakistan's defence is formidable.
Asked to comment on the draft report of the European Parliament on Kashmir, she said the original report was totally negative, discriminatory and biased and it has largely been amended.
However, it still contains many negative elements which need to be rectified. She hoped that the European Parliament would amend and rectify the glaring errors and bring it in consonance with the principles of the UN charter, international law and aspirations of the Kashmiri people as sanctified by the UN Security Council.
To another question the spokesperson said Pakistan and India are holding negotiations on Kashmir and other outstanding issue as it is in their interest and one is not doing any favour to the other.
She said it is not Pakistan's military pressure on India but sentiments of the Kashmiri people which really matter. She said the process of mapping of Sir Creek has been completed and an agreement on mapping would help clear the way for an agreement on maritime boundary between Pakistan and India in the area.
To another question she said the forthcoming SAARC summit would provide an opportunity to the leaders of the member states to review progress that the organization has made over the last three decades.
It will also be an opportunity to welcome Afghanistan that will be attending the summit first time as full member. A number of observers including China, Japan, EU and USA would also be attending the summit.
She confirmed that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would represent Pakistan at the Delhi SAARC summit. The participating leaders would also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.
To a question the Foreign Office spokesperson said that the President would attend the Arab League summit in Riyadh as special guest.
To another question she pointed out that the Middle East Initiative was not that of Pakistan alone but the seven like-minded Islamic states.
About fresh UN sanctions against Iran, the spokesperson said Pakistan does not favour imposition of sanctions which are often counter-productive. She hoped that all parties concerned would pursue efforts to find a negotiated settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
This is also the intent of the resolution which calls for negotiated settlement. She said Pakistan is examining the resolution to see whether it would impact any aspect of our relations with Iran.
Tasnim Aslam said Jamaican authorities had contacted our embassy in Washington to inform that cricket coach Bob Woolmer was murdered.
The embassy promptly dispatched two official to look after the team and liaise with the Jamaican officials. She said investigations are taking place to get to the bottom of this extremely unfortunate incident.
Courtesy Geo