(2014-04-24) [This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated] Opening Remarks Curtain Raiser- Visit of the Prime Minister to the United Kingdom Can be accessed on our Website "www.mofa.gov.pk" Now the floor is open for Questions Question Iranian Interior Minister was scheduled to visit Pakistan; however, his visit is reportedly cancelled. President’s visit to Nigeria was also postponed recently. Can you give us the reasons? Answer There were reports that the Iranian Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan has been cancelled. No, there was no scheduled visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister. The Iranian Interior Minister is likely to visit Pakistan. The dates are being finalized. It is not true that it was scheduled and then cancelled. The dates have not been finalized as yet. The visit is likely to take place, probably before the Prime Minister’s visit to Iran. As for your second question, the President was scheduled to visit Nigeria from the 21st of April on the invitation of the Nigerian President. There were scheduling difficulties. You would recall that the President was scheduled to attend two investment and business events, one in Abuja and the other in Lagos. There were some issues with the Lagos visit and because of that the visit has been postponed. Question Do you have any update on Mr. Altaf Hussain’s request for Pakistani passport? Answer No, I have no information about that. No update. Question There were also reports about the Prime Minister’s visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Have the dates been finalized? There were also reports that a high level Iranian delegation would visit Pakistan to do the ground work for the Prime Minister’s visit. Answer I can tell you that it will be before 15th of May. You would recall that earlier in response to a question on the Prime Minister’s visit to Iran, I said that we expect some high level interaction and engagement before the Prime Minister’s visit so that we do all we can to make it substantive. That process is on and there are likely to be some visit. We will let you know the exact details in due course. Question Can you give us some details on James Dobbins meeting with Adviser Sartaj Aziz? Secondly, there are some reports that India and Iran are having increased cooperation in the energy sector and that India is developing a master plan on certain energy projects to expand its supplier base. Do you think this energy sector cooperation between Iran and India could have an impact on Pakistan’s interests in the region or the situation of the region in general? Answer Second question first, economic cooperation between any two countries is their bilateral matter and we have no comments to offer on that. We have our own projects which we are working on. These include energy projects with Central Asia and also with Iran. As for your other question, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador James Dobbins is visiting Pakistan from the 23rd April to 25th. During his visit, Ambassador Dobbins will be meeting with the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Interior Minister and the Chief of Army Staff. Ambassador Dobbins has arrived here from Afghanistan. He has been visiting Pakistan frequently. Last year, he visited Islamabad in June, October and in December. He also accompanied Secretary of State Kerry during his visit to Pakistan in July-August 2013. Over the last few months, our Ambassador in Washington has regularly engaged with Ambassador Dobbins because apart from his portfolio as US Special Envoy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, he is also the focal person for Pakistan-US relations. During the visit, views will be exchanged on the situation Afghanistan. These meetings will also provide an opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations. Question What is Pakistan’s stance on the elections taking place in the Indian occupied Kashmir? Do you think these elections are an alternative to the right of self-determination? Answer Absolutely not and this is the position of the United Nations Security Council resolutions as well that any elections in Indian occupied Kashmir are not an alternative to the exercise of their right of self-determination. Question Pakistan is reportedly contemplating on entering into an agreement of purchase of electricity with Iran. Will it also have the same fate as that of the IP Gas Pipeline project? Answer This may be a government to government agreement. I do not know the details. The Ministry of Water and Power will be able to enlighten you on that but the impression that the Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline project has been scrapped is also not correct. It has been clarified a number of times. Question The Government of Pakistan says that the IP Gas Pipeline project is not implementable due to international sanctions. If that is the case, why are we signing another agreement of purchase of electricity with Iran? Answer There is a difference. Gas pipeline requires extensive infrastructure which obviously requires financial resources. The main impediment has been the raising of funding for the Gas Pipeline Project. Question Recent media reports suggest that Narendra Modi has sent his emissaries to Pakistan. Was their visit backed or facilitated by the Government of Pakistan? Answer I am not aware of any such visits. Question The US State Department’s “Reporters without Borders” which is based in France and the Amnesty International have condemned the brutal attack on a very prominent anchor Mr. Hamid Mir in Pakistan. How do you react to these? Supplementary questions: Indian and several international media houses have issued very provocative statements on Mr. Hamid Mir’s case where they have sought to malign Pakistani institutions. Is it tantamount to interference in Pakistan’s internal matters? Answer I don’t think anyone in this room or outside would condone what happened in Karachi. We condemn the attack on Mr. Hamid Mir and wish him speedy recovery. As regards the negative reporting, obviously there is a tendency to indulge in propaganda against Pakistan. You talked about the negative propaganda in the Indian media, it has not surprised us. It should not surprise anyone. As regards the international media criticizing our institutions, this is baseless. We all need to focus on our internal issues, before we start commenting on institutions and situations in other countries. Question There has been an air strike today near the Pak-Afghan border. Any comment on that? Answer I would refer you to the DG ISPR. ******************