News
Musharraf to visit Kuwait, Yemen from Dec 3
ISLAMABAD, Nov 28 : President Pervez Musharraf would pay official visit to Kuwait and Yemen from 3rd to 6th and attend 3rd extraordinary OIC summit at Makkah Mukarramah on 7th and 8th of next month, it was officially announced on Monday.
Briefing newsmen in Islamabad , Foreign Office spokes-person Tasnim Aslam said the visit to Kuwait is aimed at strengthening economic relations with that country.
The two sides would explore further avenues of cooperation particularly in promoting manpower export to Kuwait and investments from Kuwait, she said.
She pointed out that Kuwait is Pakistan's third largest economic partner in the Gulf Cooperation Council, after Saudi Arabia and UAE.
In the aftermath of earthquake, Kuwait announced relief assistance of 100 million dollars for Pakistan. There are around 120,000 Pakistanis working in Kuwait constituting significant source of foreign exchange earnings for their country.
President's visit to Yemen that takes place after a hiatus of 15 years, will afford a useful opportunity to reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to strengthen bilateral political and economic relations.
The spokesperson said during his visit to Kuwait and Yemen, the President will meet leadership of the two countries to exchange views on a host of bilateral, regional and international issues.
He will also meet speakers of the parliaments, key cabinet members, business leaders and members of the Pakistani community there.
The President will attend the 3rd Extraordinary OIC Summit taking place in Makkah Al-Mukarramah on 7th and 8th of next month. He will address the summit and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the OIC countries.
The summit will be preceded by a preparatory meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of OIC member states on 6th of next month.
The Makkah Summit will consider and approve a 10-Year Programme of Action based on the Recommendations of the Commission of Eminent Persons and Makkah Foreign of Scholars and Intellectuals.
The summit is expected to deliberate upon a strategy for addressing the problems and challenges faced by the Muslim world.
The proposed strategy will outline a course of collective action by the OIC countries on a whole range of issues including Islamophobia, promotion of Intra-OIC trade and commercial links, sustainable development, literacy, international terrorism, and development of science and technology.
PAKISTAN CONSULATE: Replying to questions the spokesperson hoped that Pakistan's consulate in Mumbai would start operating in the beginning of next year. She said Maharashtra Government has proposed some properties for the purpose and some of them have been short-listed.
Asked to comment on allegations of Indian air chief about so-called terrorism, the spokesperson rejected his statement and said Pakistan condemns all sorts of terrorism.
LINE OF CONTROL: As for infiltration across the Line of Control, she pointed out that in his statements made on 6th of last month and 21st of this month, the Indian Army Chief has admitted that it is no longer problem and that violence has come down in Occupied Kashmir.
The spokesperson expressed Pakistan's concern over human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir and hoped that India would take steps to improve the situation.
To another question she said Pakistan wants the opening of the five crossing points on the LoC as a long term arrangement for the benefit of Kashmiris. Pakistan also wants trade across the line to boost economic activity in the region.
She told a questioner that any solution of Kashmir has to be acceptable to all the three parties especially it should reflect the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
INDIAN ALLEGATIONS: The Foreign Office spokeswoman also rejected reports appearing in the Indian media trying to implicate Pakistan in the killing of an Indian national in Afghanistan. She rejected the allegation and said Pakistan considers kidnappings and killing of civilians as acts of terrorism.
She also pointed out that four Pakistani workers were killed in Kandahar on 15th of August this year, two killed in an explosion in Kandahar on 24th of August and 2 more killed in Helmand province on 22nd of last month.
The spokesperson said after visiting the site of the controversial Baglihar dam project, the neutral expert is now having meetings in Geneva while report of the Indus Commissioner has recently been submitted to the authorities about Kishan Ganga project.
QADEER KHAN: To a question about Indian statement on Dr. A.Q. Khan, she said Pakistan has been cooperating with the IAEA in accordance with its international obligations and commitment to non-proliferation. She said IAEA is appreciative of Pakistan's cooperation and we are not concerned about the views held by a country.
The spokesperson said Pakistan would not recognize Israel till establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state living in peace and harmony along with Israel.
ISRAEL VIOLATIONS: She also expressed Pakistan's concern over human rights violations by Israel in Palestine and hoped that Tel Aviv would heed to international public opinion and improve the human rights situation.