(2015-01-01) [This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated] Opening Statement Two separate Press Releases have been issued relating to exchange of list of Prisoners and list of the respective nuclear installations and facilities between Pakistan and India. Now the Floor is open for Questions Question It is reported that the US Secretary of State John Kerry will be leading the U.S. side for Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and USA. Has any date or agenda been finalized so far? (Mateen Haider, Dawn News) Answer The US Secretary of State John Kerry is visiting Pakistan this month for Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue. The arrangements are being finalized. The visit date and other details will be shared in due course. Question India has again violated Line of Control yesterday. What is Pakistan’s response on this? (Syed Musharaf Kazmi, Daily Masawat) Answer You would have seen our statement yesterday. We summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest. A protest note was also handed over. Yesterday’s incident was a violation of all norms and also violation of our bilateral understandings. We have demanded that India investigate the incident and give exemplary punishments to those responsible for it. Question Recently China has warned the government of Pakistan to expedite the process of Pak-China Economic Corridor projects. What is your comment on this? (Anwar Abass, Waqat News) Answer I do not know where you got this information. Pakistan and China have a very extensive economic cooperation. There are very frequent meetings and all steps are coordinated and finalized by mutual consultations. Question The US and NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) ended their combined mission in Afghanistan. How much prepared Pakistan is to play its role in the backdrop of drawdown of US led troops? Secondly, Pakistan’s close ally United States re-established its relations with Cuba. What is Pakistan’s stand on this? (Fida Hussain, Radio 99) Answer We have issued a statement on re-establishment of US-Cuba diplomatic ties. We have welcomed it. Please consult our website for further details. As regards the drawdown, Pakistan has consistently supported a responsible troop drawdown in Afghanistan. As part of the security transition, the NATO-ISAF combat mission in Afghanistan is coming to an end. A new “Resolute Support Mission” has commenced with focus on “train, advise and assist” the Afghan defence and security forces. The Afghan Security Forces have assumed full responsibility for Security across the country. We hope that these transitions are completed in orderly and successful manner. As we have always emphasized a peaceful and stable Afghanistan remains vitally important for Pakistan and the region, Pakistan has and will continue to play a positive and constructive role in this regard. Question Are there any existing mechanisms between Pakistan and India to address the issue of cross border violations? Secondly, what was the outcome of Iranian Finance Minister’s visit to Pakistan regarding Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline? (Kausar Lodhi) Answer There are mechanisms but in this case one side continues escalate the situation and violate those understandings and agreements. On the Iranian Finance Minister visit, I understand the Ministry of Finance did brief the media about it. As regard the Gas pipeline, there have been number of speculative reports in recent days. I am not going to get into the details but Pakistan remains committed to the pipeline project which is important for our energy requirements. Both sides remain bilaterally engaged to move this project forward and further bilateral exchanges are envisaged to take place in the coming weeks to take the matter forward. Question After 16 December tragedy in Peshawar, Pakistan is devising a new plan of action to secure its territory from terrorists. Is there anything that relates to the Foreign Policy of Pakistan? If there are some components like with neighborly countries and others what Foreign Office is initiating on its part? (Mr. Shaukat Paracha, AAJ TV) Answer Obviously, there are certain aspects of this strategy that have dimensions extending beyond Pakistan hence the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our domestic counter terrorism measures are in consonance with the legal structure or edifice that United Nation has created over the last decade or so. For instance, proscribing individuals and entities, freezing their accounts, taking measures against terrorist financing etc. We are strengthening cooperation and coordination with Afghanistan and also with the US and NATO in Afghanistan. Question My question is related to Pakistan-India relations. The year 2014 has ended whatever situation remained between the two countries, should we expect better relations between Pakistan-India in 2015? (Mr. Khwaja Nayyer Iqbal, Kashmir Post) Answer We have discussed this matter many a times. We have a vision of peace and Pakistan took steps in consonance with that vision. The Prime Minister of Pakistan went to Delhi at the invitation of his Indian counterpart. There was an agreement between the two Prime Ministers that the Foreign Secretaries would meet and talk about resumption of dialogue. The scheduled talks were cancelled by India abruptly. We believe now the onus is on India to take further initiative. Question Could you please highlight some major Foreign Policy achievements/challenges of Pakistan in 2014? (Fayyaz, APP) Answer That may be very time consuming exercise but we kept updated you about Foreign Policy achievements. We also shared challenges that we face and steps that we continue to take to meet those challenges. As regards the major achievements, I would say that in our neighborhood relations with our western neighbors Afghanistan and Iran have been put on a very positive trajectory and we hope to build on these ties in the current year. With China our cooperation has been strengthened. With the US, understanding has increased and with Russia new vistas are being opened for mutually beneficial cooperation. With the Muslim world our positive engagement has deepened. With the European Union, the year 2014 started with coming into force of GSP Plus Scheme and on various level our bilateral engagement has remained steady. Naturally, there have been challenges as well. Our efforts would be to expand our economic ties and attract more foreign investment in Pakistan. These have been hampered by the security concerns or rather the negative perceptions about the security situation. We do hope that as operation Zarb-e-Azb moves forward successfully and the security situation in Pakistan improves, opportunities for Pakistan to substantially expand its trade and investment ties with other countries will increase. Question There are rumors that Iran proposed Pakistan to pay finances through the third party. Is there any such proposal under consideration? Secondly, it is reported that Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner regarding the suspension of arrest order of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. Is it in accordance with the diplomatic norms as it was the decision of court of law not the government of Pakistan? (Riaz Burki, PTV) Answer As regards your first question, I would not get into the details of ongoing negotiations but I would, once again, underline that we have a very clear commitment regarding IP project and both sides are in contact and meetings and discussions are taking place on regular basis. As regard to your second question, Pakistan is very determined in its efforts to counter terrorism and make Pakistan secure from and free of all kinds of terrorists. We, at the same time, work with the International community to counter this menace. Presently, Pakistan is undertaking a very comprehensive operation which is still under way successfully and it is across the board against all terrorists. As regard your specific question on Lakhvi, the case is sub-judice. It is unfortunate that an unnecessary hype was created on grant of bail to Mr. Lakhvi. These are legal matters and media trials serve no purpose. We should wait for the outcome of the case. The case is progressing well. I may also draw your attention to a totally different situation with regard to the Samjhota Express terrorist attack in which close fifty Pakistanis were killed. The investigations and the confession of the mastermind of the attack, Swami Aseemanad pointed to the involvement of India Military officers and some organizations linked to major political parties. Yet, Aseemanad was granted bail on 28th August 2014. Although Samjhota Express terrorist attack happened more than two years before Mumbai attack, it is very disappointing that India has not shared findings of Samjhota Express terrorist attack investigations despite assurances at the highest level. We do not draw comparisons and do not take a similar approach. The Mumbai case is being pursued vigorously by prosecution. Question: US is shifting the Guantanamo detainees to Kazakhstan and it has been reported in the media. Is there any Pakistani in these detainees as there are still number of Pakistanis in Guantanamo prison? (Zarghon-GEO TV) Answer: At the moment I am not aware of the exact number of Pakistanis. You may like to check with the Ministry Of Interior because they have been in touch with the US authorities. Question: My question is regarding the backdrop of tragic Peshawar attack. It has been said and we understand that political will is required to tackle this scourge of regional and global terrorism. Cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is crucial when we speak of tackling regional problems of terrorism. Can you please talk about the steps Afghanistan might have taken in this regard? (Waqas Rafique-Capital TV) Answer Well, it is a continuous process. In principle, there is an agreement at the political level. As you may know, yesterday a telephonic conversation took place between the Prime Minister and the Afghan President. They, once again, emphasized their earlier agreement that we would not allow our respective territories to be used against each other. There have been continuous contacts between defence and security forces. There is broad understanding on taking coordinated action on the both sides of international border, so that terrorists do not find any space to hide. This is an ongoing process. Needless to say, the success of our efforts to eliminate terrorism to large extent depends on very close coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Question: Considering the fact that Pakistan wants peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan because it is in Pakistan’s core interest, Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz has stated in an interview that Pakistan and Afghanistan’s military are deepening their engagements to tackle this major challenge of terrorism and extremism. Is there any formal agreement we are seeking or we have secured as far as trainings of Afghan security forces is concerned? Is Pakistan going to help in beefing up Afghanistan’s defence requirements? (Maqbol Malik- The Nation) Answer: I have already responded to that question in my previous response. When President Ashraf Ghani visited Pakistan, there was understanding about strengthening the military to military relations, in addition to strengthening people to people contacts and on expanding economic relations. That offer has been there and Afghanistan has indicated that it would like to avail of the offer. Question: In previous few weeks, twelve Pakistanis have been beheaded in Saudi Arabia, so just want to inquire whether foreign office or our mission over there is involved in the process of the trial of these individuals to ensure fair trial. (Shabbir Waghra-PTV World) Answer: Well, we are in the loop to the extent that when a Pakistani is arrested in Saudi Arabia on the charges of drug- trafficking, our missions there are informed and consularaccess is granted. It should be clear to every Pakistani who is travelling to Saudi Arabia that punishment for drug-trafficking and narcotic trade in Saudi Arabia is death penalty. ******************