(2016-07-14) [This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.] Opening Remarks Bismillah IrRehman Nir Rahim, Assalaam Alaikum! Since we are meeting for the first time after Eid Ul Fitr, I wish you all Allah's blessings during this sacred month of Ramazan and times ahead. Since last time we met, we lost our revered and iconic Abdul Sattar Edhi Saheb, Inna Lillah-i-Wa Inna Elahi Rajioon! Sadly, amidst Islamic festive and sacred occasion of Eid, horrendous episode of martyrdom of our innocent Kashmiri brethren at the hands of Indian security forces continued while Kashmiri Leaders in IOK remained under detention or arrest. Let us pray for our Kashmiri brethren, especially those who lost their lives in their indigenous struggle for self-determination and for the speedy recovery of the injured. InnAllah ha Maassabreen! Now the Floor is open for Questions Question Indian atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) are getting worse every day. Is Pakistan going to raise this issue in the United National Security Council and other multilateral bodies? Will Pakistan devise a strategy in consultation with OIC countries to highlight the issue? My second question is regarding Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's statements, which are increasingly criticizing Pakistan and also demanding that we take certain steps. What is Pakistan's response? (Muddasir Hussain - Khyber News) Answer I will respond to your second question first. We have said time and again that such statements only benefit those who do not want peace in Afghanistan. These statements are unhelpful and it is advisable to refrain from such statements. Pakistan is engaged in a comprehensive effort against terrorism and extremism. Our efforts, contributions and sacrifices in combating terrorists are recognized globally. There is a need for friendly and cooperative engagement between Afghanistan and Pakistan to work together for promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. Regarding Indian atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir, you would have seen our statements. We have strongly condemned Indian atrocities on innocent Kashmiris. We have done it at various levels and the Prime Minister has also condemned these atrocities. We have also taken up the issue at the international level effectively including the OIC. We have briefed P-5 Ambassadors as well as EU Ambassadors on the gruesome killings of innocent Kashmiris. Our Ambassadors in all capitals, especially Western countries, are briefing their host governments as well as human rights groups and organization in their areas of accreditation. Pakistan unequivocally extends political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris in their struggle for self-determination. Pakistan's principled position on the issue of Kashmir is that it should be resolved according to UN Resolutions. Question Indian state terrorism is at its peak in Indian Occupied Kashmir. On our side, as we know from the arrest of Kulbushan Yadav, efforts are on to destabilize Pakistan. Do you think that in this situation, any possibility of bilateral talks with India exists? (Fayyaz Raja - Channel 92) Answer Kashmir is a universally recognized dispute with numerous UN Security Council Resolutions outstanding for almost 7 decades. Wars have not succeeded in resolving the issue of Kashmir. You may recall that the US President Bill Clinton had declared that Kashmir has become the nuclear flashpoint of South Asia. In this backdrop, dialogue is the best option to amicably resolve all issues between India and Pakistan including the dispute of Kashmir. Pakistan remains ready for dialogue. It is for the International Community to urge India to resolve issues through dialogue. Question I want to draw your attention towards the killing in a drone attack of the mastermind of the APS school attack Umar Naray. What is your reaction? Secondly, I also want to draw your attention towards of COAS General Raheel Sharif where he has directed all law enforcements agencies to ensure that Pakistan soil is not used for attacks on Afghanistan. Should we see this as a new sign of cooperation with Afghanistan? (Baqir Sajjad - Dawn News) Answer Regarding the TTP leader's killing in the drone strike, I think DG ISPR has confirmed it. As the drone strike has taken place in Afghanistan, only the Afghanistan Government can comment on the use of drones inside their territory. Regarding drone strikes on our soil, our position is very clear. We oppose such strikes as they are counter-productive as well as a violation of our sovereignty. We have always strongly taken up the issue of drone strikes with the US. Regarding COAS's statement, I think he has reflected Pakistan's consistent policy on this issue and may not be seen as new thinking or a policy shift. It is a reiteration of Pakistan's firm commitment to combat the menace of terrorism. We have said this time and again that Pakistan is proceeding comprehensively to forge peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. The Adviser has also comprehensively briefed the media on the issue. Again, it is an expression of our commitment that we want to see peace and stability in Afghanistan. Peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan's interest. Question How can India even aspire for UN Security Council status when it is the biggest hurdle in the peaceful resolution of the dispute? Secondly, Senior US lawmakers had called for a joint committee hearing titled "Pakistan friend or foe in the fight against terrorism". The House sub-committees on terrorism, non proliferation, trade as well as Asia and Pacific have held the hearing in which it has been suggested that US severe all assistance to Pakistan. Zalmay Khalilzad has made extremely negative recommendations at the hearing. Your comments. (Shaukat Paracha - Aaj TV) Supplementary Question My question also relates to Mr. Zalmay Khalilzad remarks and the remarks of other participants regarding ending financial assistance to Pakistan. Your comments. (Bashir Chaudhry - Channel 92) Answer The hearing you have referred to was informal and was very thinly attended. Mr. Ted Poe, who was behind the idea of hearing, himself, did not attend it. His negative bias against Pakistan is well known so nothing positive could be expected. Mr. Khalilzad's credentials are also well known. How seriously his opinion is taken also does not require highlighting. From Pak-US common perspective, our two countries are long time partners and allies in their shared goal of defeating terrorism. There had been close CT cooperation between the two countries. In the October 2015 Joint Statement of President Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Obama, affirmed Pakistan's role as a key counterterrorism partner and recognized the sacrifices that Pakistani civilians, military, and law enforcement personnel have made. Chairman Armed Services Committee, Senator John McCain, after a recent visit to Pakistan and seeing first-hand the results of military operations in North Waziristan, said "he was impressed by the progress on ground". Pakistan's resolve to fight the menace of terrorism is not questionable. The extra-ordinary success of operation Zarb-e-Azb is a testimony to Pakistan's unwavering commitment to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan's soil. On your first question, according to Article 23.1 of the UN Charter, the qualification for Security Council membership includes role of member states in the maintenance of international peace and security and other purposes of the organization. Purposes of the United Nations include effective collective measures against breaches of the peace and settlement of international disputes. Purposes of the United Nations also include the promotion of human rights and respect for fundamental freedoms. In this context, it is crystal clear that a country which is in constant violation of the Security Council resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir does not fulfill the qualification requirements of membership of Security Council. Moreover, India has a track record of violating fundamental human rights of Kashmiris including their right to life and the right to self-determination. Recent instances have once again highlighted the brutality of Indian state against civilian protestors. A state which has such a complete disregard for norms of international law and human rights cannot be entrusted with the responsibility that comes with the membership of the Security Council. Question Despite committing atrocities on innocent Kashmiris, India is surprisingly Pakistan blaming Pakistan for this violence and criticizing Pakistan for raising the issue as well as Prime Minister's statement. India is saying that Pakistan is using terrorism as state policy. Your comments. (Essa Naqvi - Dunya TV) Supplementary Question India calls Mr. Burhan Wani a militant and a terrorist. What is Pakistan's terminology for individuals working for liberation of their homelands? Should we call them freedom fighters, militants or terrorists? (Mateen Haider - Dawn TV) Answer Kashmir is a disputed matter with numerous UN Security Council Resolutions outstanding on its agenda. A series of UN Security Council Resolutions have been issued reiterating the initial ones issued in 1948 and 1949. Moreover, there are also many OIC Resolutions on Kashmir issue. All these resolutions are available on the Ministry's website. As such the dispute of Kashmir has international recognition. Calling it an internal matter by India is a violation of UN Security Council's Resolutions. The current situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and the indigenous movement for self-determination, which is going on for a long time in IOK, is a manifestation of what the Kashmiris want. They are resisting against the Indian occupation of their territory and want to exercise their right to self-determination. They want UN Security Council to implement Resolutions on Kashmir Dispute and fulfill their promise. It is evident that nothing can deter the Kashmiris' resolve to continue their struggle. Indian efforts to project Kashmiri movement as terrorism through baseless accusations cannot succeed. International Community recognizes the Kashmiris' movement for self-determination. It is the Indian Security Forces who are indulging is state terrorism in IOK. They are terrorizing the population. It is condemnable that they are even attacking the ambulances and hospitals to deny treatment to the Kashmiris on whom they have unleashed the terror attacks. Question This is regarding the recent statements coming out from Afghanistan including President Ashraf Ghani's statement. Also NATO has announced its support for Afghan forces. Do you still think that US and Afghanistan are interested in peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. What is the fate of the QCG? (Fakhar-ur-Rahman - Turkish News Agency/Such TV) Answer I have answered a part of your question already regarding statements that are unhelpful and serve the interest of those not interested to see peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan welcomes all efforts aimed at establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan. The international community's continued engagement with Afghanistan is important in view of the precarious security situation. We hope that NATO's continued support to ANSF would strengthen its capacity to deal with the challenges. QCG is an ongoing process and all the four countries have expressed their commitment to continue with it. Whenever the time is right for having the next meeting, it will be held and you would know about it. Question Bangladesh government has ordered Peace TV of Zakir Naik to stop broadcasting and has alleged that the attackers in the recent attack were inspired by Dr. Naik. Your comments. My second question relates to Samjhauta Express terrorist attack. India is setting free or suppressing evidence regarding most of the suspects of this terrorist attack. Your comment please. (Sheeba Mahar - Daily SAMAA) Answer Dr. Naik is an Indian national. It is up to India and Bangladesh to address the issue and control their people responsible for terrorism in the two countries. Regarding Samjhauta Express, I addressed this issue in detail in my previous briefings also. Pakistan and others are aware of these developments as how the perpetrators of this terrorist attack are being exonerated of their crime and released and how the case is being handled by Indian authorities. We have taken up this issue time and again with India and asked them to share the results of their investigations with us. We are yet to receive details from them. The Indian media as well as our media has also reported on how perpetrators of the attack are being handled. We will continue to raise this issue with India. Question Is there a plan to convene a special session of the OIC Foreign Ministers to discuss the human right violation in IoK? (Kauser Lodhi - Prime News) Answer I am not aware of any move as such but it cannot be ruled out. An independent body has been established under OIC to monitor the human right violations. This is a very positive development and this body is functional. Question Pakistan traditionally opposes drone strikes. Recently, a US delegation came to Pakistan. Did they give us any assurances on drone strikes that they would reconsider their policy? (Khawaja Nayaar Iqbal - Kashmir Post) Answer Both the Adviser and I have made it clear that we have opposed drone strikes in all meetings with the US delegations as well as at multilateral level in the United Nations and other bodies. If you look at the history of drone strikes in Pakistan, you would realize that they had diminished considerably since 2013. Question The EU and western countries, champion of human rights, why are they silent on the killings of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces? Your comments. (Amjad Ali - PTV) Answer The Foreign Secretary has briefed EU Ambassador in Islamabad on killings and human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir being perpetrated by the Indian security forces in utter violations of international and human rights laws. We are taking all steps to sensitize the international community. Our Ambassadors in the EU capitals are briefing their respective host governments and the human rights organizations. The human rights violations in IoK had been taking place for a long time. Question Newly appointed Defence Minister of Israel who is also Jewish Chief of Rabbinet is notoriously known for his statement that during wartime non-Jewish females can be raped. It has triggered a fresh wave of resentment not only in Israel and Palestine but also in the in other parts of the world. What is Pakistan's take on it? Indian forces are also using such war tactics in Kashmir. (Syed Mohsin Raza-ASAS) Answer I think if such a statement has been given, it is condemnable and deplorable. Such statements cannot be welcomed by any sane person or any country. With regard to atrocities by Indian forces in Kashmir, I think our position is quite clear on that we have time and again highlighted these violations. Question United Nations Secretary General offered Pakistan and India mediation on Kashmir. What is the stance of Pakistan on It? (Tariq Sial- Daily Times) Answer We have been engaged in a bilateral dialogue to resolve this issue without any success for a long time. It is the UN's official responsibility and obligation to address the issue of Kashmir because there are UN Security Council's resolutions on it. We would welcome such an intervention from the UN. Question My question is related to the SAARC Summit to be hosted by Pakistan this year in November. Is there any preparatory or Ministerial level meeting going to take place before the main Summit? Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has invited SAARC Finance Ministers, what is update on it? (Shumaila Andleeb - APP) Answer I think you may the recall that during the last Ministerial meeting in Nepal, Pakistan formally handed over invitations to all SAARC leadership to host the Summit to which all the SAARC members consented. The preparations are on and SAARC has a set format in which things actually lead up to the Summit. There will be a meeting of the Programming Committee, which is also a chartered body. It will be followed by the meeting of the Standing Committee which is headed by the Foreign Secretaries of the SAARC countries. Then there will be meeting of the Council of Ministers, which is headed by the respective Foreign Ministers of the member countries. With regard to the meeting of the Finance Ministers I am not sure and therefore I will have to check whether Pakistan has invited or agreed to host the meeting of SAARC Finance Ministers. Question Do you think that current policy of India in Indian occupied Kashmir and its involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan are basically measures to sabotage the SAARC Summit? Secondly, whether Pakistan will invite Hurriyat Leaders in this conference so that they can present their point of view? (Asghar Ali Mubarik - Daily Mail) Answer All SAARC countries have accepted invitations so there is no uncertainty regarding its hosting. Regarding your first question, I will say that leaders of all SAARC countries have given their consent that SAARC summit will take place. Regarding Kashmir, we have taken several important steps regarding this issue and we will keep raising this issue at various international forums. Kashmir is among the national objectives of the Government of Pakistan. As regard the Hurriyat leaders, whenever there is any event regarding Kashmir or any discussion regarding it whether it is in Pakistan or any other part of the world they are invited. Whether they can join it or not is a separate issue. It is the responsibility of international community that whenever there is any event on Kashmir, the Kashmiris must be allowed to participate. Question Pakistan Navy verified that a meeting took place between Pakistan and Indian Coast Guards yesterday. Moreover, they said that you will provide further information but we kept on waiting. (Kashan Akmal - 7 News) Answer It was a two day meeting on 12-13 July 2016. Coast Guard meetings are part of a mechanism which is in place for last over 10 years. After every year or two it takes place periodically and alternately in India and Pakistan. These meetings are headed by DG Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and DG Indian Coast Guard. In these meetings issues relating to fishermen, their conduct, their violations and the issues relating to maritime security are discussed. So that there are minimum violations from both sides. You know that most of the violations are from the Indian side because their fishermen are almost arrested every week with their boats. A special mechanism was evolved regarding it during the Ufa meeting where measures to resolve this issue were discussed. Question There has been indiscriminate killing of the Muslims in Indian Occupied Kashmir. During the last two week almost 40 people have been killed and around two thousand people are injured. Moreover, Kashmiri leadership is also under house arrest. What is your stance on this? (Syed Mushraf Kazmi - Business Plus TV) Answer Regarding this, I have repeatedly said that we have strongly condemned this situation and we have serious concerns on it. We have also expressed our grief and sorrow on the killings over there. Not only Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Secretary have issued statements and taken action on it but Prime Minister has also give a statement on it. You also know that a Cabinet meeting is also going to take place in Lahore on this issue. We have always been raising this issue forcefully at different international forums, we are still raising this issue and we will keep on raising it until the Kashmiris are given justice and this issue is resolved. Question What is evaluation of Pakistan regarding performance of OIC on Muslim world issues including Kashmir, Palestine etc? (Raza Manafi - IRNA) Answer OIC is the second largest inter-Governmental Organization after the United Nations. It works in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony and to support the legitimate causes of the Muslim Ummah including Palestine, Jammu & Kashmir, Plight of Rohingya, Islamophobia etc. OIC Secretary General deplored the use of force by the Indian security forces on innocent Kashmiris in IoK on 13 July 2016. He also noted with regret the Indian attempt to malign the Kashmiri freedom struggle by denigrating it as terrorism. OIC's Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) has called for an immediate end to the ongoing abrasive human rights violations and deplored extrajudicial killings of Kashmiris in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. The Commission expressed serious concern over human rights violations in IoK in which "30 innocent Kashmiris killed and more than 1400 have been injured and around 50 are critical". People have been denied access to basic emergency services and right to health. There have been incidents of violence, harassments, shelling of teargas in hospitals, to prevent access to hospitals and restrict the movement of ambulances. The use of excessive force against innocent civilians, protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings, is deplorable and a blatant violation of the right to life, right to freedom of expression and opinion, right to peaceful protest and assembly and other fundamental human rights. These extrajudicial killings and abrasive human rights violations should stop forthwith. There should not be any impunity for human rights violations.