(2016-04-07) [This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.] Opening Remarks Assalaam Alaikum Distinguished friends! The 4th Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in Washington, which concluded last weekend, was a significant event, especially from Pakistan's perspective. Statements and the outcomes of the Summit were gratifying for Pakistan in many ways. Our constructive engagement in the process has helped in highlighting Pakistan's strong national nuclear security regime, command and control system, rigorous regulatory regime and comprehensive export controls, which have been appreciated at the international level. Pakistan's ratification of the Amended CPPNM and nuclear security training provided by Pakistan's Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Security (PCENS), including the meeting of the IAEA's Network of Nuclear Security and Support Centers in March (for the first time outside Vienna), gained broad appreciation. We have been running a safe, secure and safeguarded civil nuclear programme for more than 42 years. We have the expertise, manpower and infrastructure to produce civil nuclear energy. The NSG is still deliberating upon the issue of membership for non-NPT states. Pakistan has strong credentials for full integration in the multilateral export control arrangements, including the NSG and we are confident that we will be able to qualify any principle-based, objective and non-discriminatory criteria developed for this purpose. Arrest of Indian RAW officer and investigations, Swedish Think Tank SIPRI's report on the extravaganza of military spending and Pakistan's concerns over Indian defence buildup were the topic of the TV talk shows, media commentaries and opinion columns. Recent rains and floods wreaked havoc in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan resulting in heavy casualties of our brethren and enormous losses to properties and infrastructure. Let us offer our prayers for the victims and sympathies to the bereaved families. Now the Floor is open for Questions Question Last time, you said that the Indian request for consular access to arrested Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav was under consideration. What is the status of their request? (Muddasir Hussain - Khyber TV) Answer The Indian request for consular access is under consideration. It may be pertinent to mention that in the case of Pakistan and India, there is an agreement on consular matters. The request would be considered in view of the relevant clauses of the agreement. Question What is the status of the investigations with RAW's arrested officer, Mr. Kulbhushan Yadav? Any breakthrough about terror financing channels, more arrests, if any and other countries being used? (Amjad Ali - PTV News) Answer The investigations with Kulbushan Yadev are in process. Based on the confessional statement, our law enforcement agencies are making every effort to apprehend all individuals involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. Question Is Pakistan worried about Indian overtures towards our closest friend Saudi Arabia? My second question is about Indian RAW,s role in general elections in Sri Lanka last in which India ensured that ex-President of Sri Lanka Rajapakse is defeated. This was revealed by a sitting Sri Lankan MP, who claimed Indian financing behind it. Your comments please. (Fakhar Rehman - Turkish News Agency) Answer We do not comment on bilateral relations between two sovereign countries. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have timeless brotherly relations. Pakistan remains concerned at the subversive activities of RAW against Pakistan and Pakistan's interests from various locations in the region. We believe in living in a friendly and peaceful environment with all our neighbours, which can lead to the betterment of our peoples. Question Pakistan has arrested an Afghan agent from Balochistan. Has Pakistan raised this issue with Afghan authorities? (Ishtiaq Ahmad - Voice of America) Answer I saw the reports this morning, but we don't have details as yet. I will get back to you when we have shareable details. Question This is again regarding the arrest of the RAW agent. Pakistan has contacted the highest Iranian authorities for cooperation. Is there any intelligence sharing mechanism between the two countries? Has Iran responded to Pakistan's specific request for handing over RAW's officer Rakesh alias Rizwan? (Mateen Haider - Dawn News) Supplementary Question Has Iran taken steps to stop RAW's activities on its soil? (Essa Naqvi Dunya TV) Answer There is a Special Security Committee between Pakistan and Iran comprising Interior Secretaries of the two countries. Besides, there is a Higher Border Commission as well as Joint Border Commission. The military and security authorities of the two countries also have regular exchanges and cooperation. My response to the supplementary question is that the President of Iran during his visit to Pakistan had said that security of Pakistan is security of Iran and security of Iran is security of Pakistan. Iran has assured that its soil will never be allowed to be used against Pakistan. Question There is uproar in the Indian media regarding Pakistani press reports quoting JIT sources that the Pathankot incident was a inside job done by Indian intelligence agencies. My question is: has the Indian request for a reciprocal visit in connection with Pathankot incident been accepted? If so, on what legal basis they can investigate matter here while the incident happened there? And has the JIT concluded JeM and Masood Azhar's involvement? (Shah Nawaz Muhal - Pakistan Today) Answer I think you are referring to media reports that appeared in "Pakistan Today" yesterday. You may have seen our Press Release, which was issued yesterday. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) visited India from 27 March to 1 April 2016 in context of the Pathankot incident. Investigations are underway and the JIT is evaluating the information shared by the Indian side. Further queries on this issue may be directed to the Ministry of Interior. Question Since direct talks between Afghan government & Taliban are not taking place, should there be a fifth round of QCG? (Rabia - Mishal Radio) Answer In the fourth meeting of the QCG held in Kabul on 23 February 2016, the Group had decided that the next QCG meeting would take place in Islamabad immediately after the first round of direct peace talks for which efforts are underway by the QCG countries. The QCG countries can mutually decide to convene the next meeting of the Group as and when needed. Question 200 Pakistani nationals were recently deported from Greece to Turkey. What is happening with them? Are they being helped by our embassies in Greece and Turkey? (Sheeba Mahar - Daily SAMAA) Answer The Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection (Ministry of Interior) has informed our mission in Athens that 130 Pakistani out of total 202 were deported on 4th April 2016 to Dikeli port in Turkey. 124 were deported from the island of Lesvos and 6 from the island Chios. Our Ambassador in Athens is in contact with the relevant Greek authorities to ascertain further details, if any. Question We are talking about the activities of RAW in Pakistan and we should not forget Samjhauta Express incident. Is there any development in that case? (Sohail Chaudhry - Daily Pakistan) Answer I think this question has been asked a number of times and is a longstanding and important issue. In this case, there is a confession of the mastermind of the attack, who was a RSS activist Swami Aseemanand. He publicly confessed his involvement in the attack in 2010. He also identified those active service Indian Army officer, who collaborated in the attack of Samjhauta Express carried out by RSS and Abhinav Bharat. I don't know whether you are aware that Swami Aseemanand is on bail for quite some time. The Government of Pakistan has taken up the issue with the Indian side repeatedly since the incident because 48 innocent Pakistanis lost their lives in that terrorist attack. The Indian side at the highest political level had agreed to share the outcome of the investigations with us. However, we are still waiting. We will keep on raising the issue with them. Question Afghan President in an interview said that there is an undeclared war going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan. How do you see this statement as Pakistan is making sincere efforts for peace process in Afghanistan? Secondly, Mr. Kulbhushan was arrested from the area which is in close proximity of Afghanistan where India's RAW is operating against Pakistan in collaboration with Afghanistan's NDS. Have any links with Afghan NDS been found? Or confessed by Mr. Yadav? (Asif Ali - Daily Din) Answer Regarding the first part of your question, we have seen the media reports that you referred to. Pakistan has been engaged in sincere and consistent efforts for promoting lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. We have been making serious efforts to facilitate an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. We believe that a politically negotiated settlement is the most viable option for bringing lasting peace to Afghanistan. Pakistan's commitment and support for Afghanistan's peace, progress and prosperity remains unflinching. We have time and again emphasized that bringing Taliban and others to negotiation table is not just Pakistan's responsibility. All the four members of QCG have a joint commitment to the peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. We have also advised that the blame game would only benefit those averse to peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan's stakes in peace and stability in Afghanistan are higher than others. As to second part of your question, I am not privy to the details. As and when further shareable details are received it will be made public. Question Has the Foreign Office briefed Foreign Missions in Islamabad regarding the arrest of the RAW agent Mr. Kulbhushan Yadav? (Asghar Ali Mubarak - Daily Mail Islamabad) Answer Pakistan has taken all the steps that you have mentioned. We have briefed the P5 members, EU and others on the issue. Future course of action will be decided on revelations and outcome of the investigations into the issue. We have requested these countries to raise the issue of RAW's involvement in Pakistan with India. I would like to add here that RAW's involvement in Pakistan is not new. It's only that we have a solid and irrefutable evidence in the form of the arrested officer, Kulbhushan Yadav. You may recall that last year we had handed over three dossiers to the UN Secretary General and the shared information with US government. Question Regarding the JIT visit to India, we have seen reports that the JIT did not receive full cooperation from India. Yesterday the Indian Foreign Secretary stated that Pathankot shows that the biggest issue between Indian and Pakistan is terrorism. Do you think Foreign Secretary level talks can take place in this less-than-congenial atmosphere between the two countries? (Waqas Rafique - Capital TV) Answer Your question implies whether the Foreign Secretary level talks will take place or not. I have stated this many times that both countries are in contact with each other and it has been reiterated from both sides that modalities are being worked out. I will again state that negotiations are the best means to resolve the issues. I have read the statement of the Indian Foreign Secretary you are referring to and in that also there was indication that the talks would take place. Question My question is about the Samjhauta and the Pathankot incident, in both cases investigators were being killed in India. Our JIT was also not been given access to the remaining investigators of the Pathankot incident. Is this a coincidence or a pre-planned happening to hide some facts from JIT or the world? (Khalid Jamil - Abbtak TV) Answer I think you are referring to the killing of Mr. Karkare, the police officer, who was investigating the Samjhauta Express case. I have seen media reports regarding the incident in which an officer of India's National Investigation Agency has been killed and that he was probing Pathankot incident. However, these are media reports and we don't have such details on the basis of which any comments could be offered. Question You have again said that Pakistan has submitted three dossiers at the United Nation last year. I want to know that what action was taken on the basis of these dossiers at UN level. (Wajid Khan - Independent News Agency) Answer These are very important issues and especially in our context since we have suffered at the hands of terrorism. More than sixty thousand people have lost their lives, more than five thousand solders and law enforcement officials have sacrificed their lives. So, it is a very big issue for us. Whatever information was available with us we have shared it with the international community. Among the international community, the most important multilateral organization is the United Nations and we have taken up this issue with it. Subsequently, developments have taken place, which have vindicated our position on the issue. We may share whatever shareable comes out from the ongoing investigation of the arrested RAW officer. Question You said that India - Saudi Arabia relations are a bilateral matter, but this is beyond trade and commerce relations. Now this is moving towards a strategic and security nature. Is this a matter of concern for Pakistan? Secondly, there are some very authentic reports that seventeen Pakistanis have completed their sentences in Indian jails. What is the update on it? Ten years have passed and they are still languishing in Indian jails. How would we repatriate them? ( Abid Khursheed - ATV) Answer I have already answered the first part of your question. The relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are timeless, deep-rooted and longstanding. We do not comment on bilateral relations of two sovereign states. As to your second question, I think this is not a question, which has come up recently. We always take up the issue of our prisoners in Indian jails with India. I recall having seen that report also that mentioned about their continued imprisonment despite confirmation of their national status years ago. Our High Commissioner in New Delhi remains in touch with Indian government. Question My question is related to Pakistani fishermen arrested in India. Pakistan's Fishermen Forum has blamed Pakistan Embassy as well for not taking up the issue with the Indian authorities? (Tariq Siyal - Online) Answer Our Mission not taking up the issue is not true. Pakistan regularly takes up the issue of imprisoned Pakistanis with the Indian Government. Arrest of fishermen happens frequently. There is a mechanism already in place as fishermen on both sides are arrested when they cross over into each others' waters often. Both sides periodically exchange information about prisoners on reciprocal basis. We also have a judicial mechanism, which actually looks into details of prisoners from all the countries who are in our jails. We do not follow the policy of reciprocity in releasing prisoners. We act on humanitarian considerations alone. This is our policy regarding all countries and not just not India. Question US President Barrack Obama at NSS in Washington called on India and Pakistan to make progress in reducing the nuclear arsenal, saying India and Pakistan should not continually move in the wrong direction; admitted innocent killings during overseas US drone attacks. What is Pakistan's position in this regard? (Essa Naqvi - Dunya TV) Answer Maintenance of peace and stability in South Asia is the cornerstone of Pakistan's policy. We are opposed to nuclear or conventional arms race in the region. Pakistan's nuclear capability is solely for self-defense and we are committed to credible minimum deterrence. We have taken note of President Obama's call on both India and Pakistan to work together with a view to ensuring that their military doctrines do not move in the wrong direction. There is an increased understanding at the international level of Pakistan's genuine concerns regarding rapidly growing Indian conventional and nuclear capabilities and their offensive force postures and military doctrines such as ;Cold Start Doctrine.; Pakistan remains ready to discuss arms control and restraint measures with India. Our proposal for Strategic Restraint Regime (SRR) can provide a basis for mutually agreed restraint measures and avoidance of unnecessary arms race in the region. We believe that the limited resources of Pakistan and India should be channelled to meeting the social needs of our people. Question My question is about the arrest of RAW agent in the Iranian perspective, we have been talking to the Iranians and their response is that the people and Government of Iran are not satisfied with the theory which we have sold that that it was a coincidence that Mr. Yadav was arrested during the visit of the Iranian President. They see it as a plot to jeopardize the visit of President Rouhani. What is your response to it? (Zarghoon Shah - Geo TV) Answer First of all, let me correct you, the visit was never jeopardized. If you look at the outcome, it was very satisfactory from our point of view as well as from the Iranian perspective. Both sides have publicly stated that. The timings and announcements were not designed on purpose. If you are looking for a reason, one could find fault with the announcement even if it was made before or after the visit. I think we need some understanding that Iran and Pakistan are brotherly countries. We share borders. We have an important longstanding relationship and you know that recent developments have opened up new avenues for mutual cooperation. In our energy security vision also we see Iran as a very important source. Question Last week during the conference in USA, world powers have shown concerns about the Indian nuclear program. Whether Pakistan is going to raise this issue with the international community in this context so that India must make the security of its nuclear program up to the international standards? (Rana Moazim - Jahan-e-Pakistan) Answer I think I have already given a very comprehensive answer in this regard. Pakistan has always raised its concerns. In my opening remarks, I have also made a brief reference on it. Pakistan keeps raising its concerns at the International level on appropriate occasions. Even in the recent conference in Washington Pakistan raised the issue of regional security. *****