(2014-09-18) [This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated] Opening Statement In the beginning, responses to the queries from last week. · There was a question about the French Embassy. The French Embassy was allowed to build a wall on the perimeters of the Mission. Somehow, the wall was being built outside and therefore, the work has been stopped. CDA and the French Embassy are in contact. · Then there was a question about any prisoner exchange agreement between Pakistan and UAE. Yes, we have a Bilateral Agreement on the Transfer of Offenders which came into force in July 2013. So far, there has been no exchange of prisoners. Technical details are being worked out. · There was a query about a person who went missing in the UAE, Mr. Omar Mateen. According to the details we have, Omar Mateen went to a local bank on behalf of the company he was working with to withdraw money. He asked the driver to go back but he himself disappeared from the bank. A case was registered against him by the company under UAE law for fraud. His family, however, registered a case for forced disappearance. His father has been in contact with our Consulate and the parents have been visiting the Foreign Office as well. This case was also registered in the Islamabad High Court and subsequently in the Supreme Court. We have submitted a response and we have assured the court like we have assured the family that we will do all we could to assist the complainant -his father and comply with the orders of the honorable court. You may also like to contact Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource which through its Community Welfare Attachés is responsible for the welfare of Pakistanis working abroad. · One more clarification: last week somebody mentioned that Mr. Sartaj Aziz and Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar were members of the Atlantic Council. The Advisor has clarified that he has never been a member of Atlantic Council. He was once part of a task force on water issues between Pakistan and India along with a former Indian Minister for External Affairs. Now the Floor is open for Questions Question Chinese President’s visit to Pakistan was postponed due to certain reasons. Do you see any negative implications specially keeping in mind that he is visiting India as per schedule and Indians are claiming it to be a historic visit? Answer The Chinese President was visiting South Asia. His visit to Pakistan was postponed. Subsequently, the two governments have been in touch. You would recall that last week we issued a statement giving you the details of a meeting between Advisor Sartaj Aziz and the Chinese President in Dushanbe. In that meeting, the Chinese President said that he was keenly looking forward to visiting Pakistan at an early date. He reiterated the sentiments that both our countries share about our bilateral relations -time tested and all weather friendship. I would like to quote from what Chinese President said during his meeting with Advisor, he said that this relationship is insulated from developments around the world. We should, therefore, not be concerned in this regard. The visit will take place as soon as possible. The two governments are in touch. Question Venomous allegations continue to be leveled unabated from the Afghan side on our security agencies. As citizens of Pakistan, we sometimes get frustrated and defensive because we feel that our government does not respond in the same coin. Can you explain the reason? Supplementary Question: When Pakistan lodged protest with Afghanistan on the terrorist attack from across the border yesterday, did you summon any diplomat? Answer Pakistan is a mature country. It does not behoove us to respond to all baseless allegations but we do put our record straight. We issued a statement on 16th of September and then again on the 17th after the attack by about 90 to 100 terrorists from Paktikka and Khost provinces of Afghanistan into Pakistani territory from across the international border. We have lodged a protest and we have asked Afghanistan in very categorical terms to eliminate the terrorist sanctuaries that have taken root in Afghanistan. As for the supplementary question, yes, an Afghan diplomat was summoned. Question Any update on the Pakistani journalist, Mr. Faiz-ullah who was arrested in Afghanistan? Answer You know that his case is now in appeal. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again hired a lawyer to take up his appeal in the High Court. This is going to be only one hearing in which the decision to his appeal will be given, that is why the lawyer and the concerned officials are proceeding with care. His appeal was to be heard on the 16th of the September but the court deferred it. Now, the appeal will come up for hearing after one week or latest within a fortnight. Our Embassy has also requested the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for private meetings to facilitate the case. Question Just before Chinese President’s visit to India, was there any contact between Pakistani and Chinese leadership? Answer Pakistani and Chinese leadership, our governments and Foreign Offices maintain regular contacts. Question UN General Assembly Session is going to begin next week. At what level will Pakistan be represented? Answer About the UN General Assembly, you know that UN General Assembly session is one of most important forum where world leaders gather to consider issues of peace and security, economic development, environmental issues etc. It has been a longstanding practice to participate in the high level segment of UN general assembly at the leadership level and to make a policy statement which projects Pakistan’s perspective on vital issues of our interest. As regards the high level 69th Session of General Assembly, details are still being worked out and once we have a decision we will share it. Question You have been telling us for the last many weeks that the political Dharnas are Pakistan’s internal matter. There are however, reports that some foreign Ambassadors have been meeting Mr. Qadri and are giving him suggestions. Do they seek permission from the Foreign Office prior to such meetings? Answer I am not aware of any meeting and I am not aware of any permission being sought. Generally, there is a principle, unrelated to this episode, how our missions work abroad; they do keep in touch with various segments of society and so do other missions here. We very scrupulously avoid any interference in their internal matters and we expect the same from others. Question Is there any chance of a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of UNGA? Answer Whenever Pakistani leadership attends the UNGA session, the occasion is utilized to interact with other world leaders. Question Is there any kind of foreign aid offered to Pakistan for flood affectees other than India and China and what is the response of USA in this regard? Answer We have not launched any appeal. But a number of countries have offered and given assistance which is generally through the UN organizations like World Food Program, UNICEF and others. Question There are reports in media that India is planning to build settlements in Indian Occupied Kashmir specifically for Hindus. Lot of concern has been raised on how this will change the demography of Kashmir. Your comments on this please? Answer You know that under the UN Security Council resolutions and subsequent commission there were certain restrictions imposed on both countries Pakistan and India including purchase or sale of property in the state of Jammu-and Kashmir and changing the demography. ******************