(2015-01-08) [This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated] There are No Opening Remarks. The Floor is Open for Questions Question Have the dates of the US Secretary of State John Kerry been finalized for Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue? What issues are going to be raised in the Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and US? (Mateen Haider, Dawn News) Answer As I confirmed last time the visit is in the pipeline. I cannot share the exact dates of the visit as yet. As per past practice, we would be making an announcement prior to the visit at an appropriate time. The visit would initiate a new round of Strategic Dialogue and the entire gamut of Pakistan-US relations will be discussed. Regional issues and international situations will also come under discussion. Question What is the official stand of Pakistan on French Magazine attack? They called it freedom of expression or freedom of press which Muslims at large take it as a sick religious act and an act of apostasy.(Syed Mohsin Raza, Such TV) Answer We have already issued a statement. We have condemned the attack as we are opposed to terrorism in its all forms and manifestations. I am sure that you would have also seen the reaction across the Muslim world. On the issue of cartoons and caricatures, you know the position Pakistan holds and the position of the Muslim world expressed through OIC. Pakistan is part of various initiatives for promoting tolerance, inter-faith harmony and eschewing Islamophobia. In this context, Pakistan tables a resolution at the UN General Assembly which is adopted by the consensus. Question India is violating line of control (LoC) and the working boundary time and again and in this violation many innocent people are also being killed. What is stand of Foreign Office? (Syed Musharaf Kazmi, Daily Masawat) Answer We have already made our position known. We have lodged protest with India. The Indian High Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner were summoned on two separate occasions. The Adviser to the prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs addressed a letter to the Indian External Affairs Minister. Many precious lives have been lost due to unprovoked Indian firing on the Line of Control and working boundary. Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes and flee to safety. Civilian population of Pakistan is more vulnerable because many villages are located in close proximity to the working boundary. In our response, we exercise utmost care to avoid civilian causalities because on the other side of Line of Control and the working boundary are Kashmiris who are our brothers and sisters. The Indian BSF has been blatantly and without discrimination targeting civilians. Question In continuation of this subject, a detailed statement issued by the Indian Spokesman MEA although we got a brief statement from you but still there are some aspects which need to be commented. (Mr. Shaukat Paracha, AAJ TV) Answer We did respond to the Indian allegations and it was quite comprehensive. We rebutted each and every baseless allegation that was made by Indian MEA. I may add that we do not require a certificate of approval from India on our counter-terrorism efforts. Pakistan is committed to countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Our armed forces are successfully conducting a comprehensive and across the board operation Zarb-e-Azab to root out terrorism. Our efforts and sacrifices are widely acknowledged by the international community although we do it first and foremost for our own seek. Question It seems that India is deliberately creating a situation before the US President Obama’s visit to India by resorting to intense firing on the LoC and working boundary which is followed by the recent “terror boat drama”. What is your response on this? (Mr. Zarghoon Shah, Geo TV) Answer On the unprovoked firing and escalation on the LoC and working boundary, I have already said what I needed to say. On the so called terror boat incident, India has not approached Pakistan through diplomatic channels. Based on media reports, our authorities in Pakistan are conducting an inquiry into the incident primarily to ascertain if any Pakistani fishing boat is missing at sea. There appears to be no sound evidence to substantiate the Indian allegations. There is a debate in India and questions are being raised about the claims and circumstance under which the people in the boat were targeted and boat was set on fire. We expect that there would be a transparent investigation by the Indian government to ascertain the facts of the incident and the circumstance in which the boat caught fire and some people got killed. Question My question is also relating to the ongoing tension between Pakistan-India, there is growing sense/opinion that there is no willingness on the part of India and Pakistan to actually resolve this continuous tension. You comments please.(Mr. Waqas Rafiq, Capital TV) Answer I don’t know from where this impression has come that there is no willingness in Pakistan to ease tensions. I can speak for Pakistan. We have done all we could. You are aware of the circumstances under which the two Rangers got martyred; they were given the impression that there would be a meeting. There have been in the past contacts under various mechanisms. Pakistan armed forces are conducting operation Zarb-e-Azb. We cannot afford distractions at a time when we are in the midst of a very crucial counter terrorism operation. Hence, any effort to create the perception or impression that Pakistan initiates these violations, creating or prolonging tension is totally baseless. Question Some Pakistani madrasas are funded directly by our neighbor Islamic countries. Government is going to audit these funding through proper channels. Is there any talk on the diplomatic level with these countries which are giving financial aid to these madrasas? (Owais Kiyani,Royal TV) Answer I think this question was asked in the last briefing as well. Though broad parameters have been put in palace and the Ministry of Finance is tightening controls in the financial sector, particularly with regard to terrorists financing. I am not saying this with reference to any outside country or any particular source but as a general policy of Pakistan. But you may like to address this question to Ministry Of Finance or NACTA. Question There are some reports that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has invited some leading Pashtun leaders to his palace in Kabul. Is Foreign Office in the loop and what is the agenda? (Riaz Burki-PTV) Answer There have been regular visits and contacts between political personalities of the two countries. There are multiple layers of our bilateral interactions. During President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Pakistan there was a decision to intensify people to people contacts. I am not privy to the exact background or perspective from which these leaders have been invited but overall there is an effort to increase the people to people contacts between the two countries. Question As you mentioned that the adviser to the PM Sartaj Aziz wrote a letter to Indian External Affairs Minister. Have we officially received the answer of that letter? Would you please share the contents of that letter if we have received the answer? (Fayyaz Chaudhry-APP) Answer I understand the Indian Ministry of External Affairs released the main contents of that letter. Yes, I can confirm that we received a response from India. We expect that India, instead of denying, would investigate the circumstance under which the two soldiers of Rangers were martyred, conduct a transparent inquiry and bring the responsible for this crime to justice. Question My first question is that I was reading today that during the visit of Secretary John Kerry Pakistan would demand the actions against Pakistani Taliban hiding in Afghanistan. Do you think that America will now take actions against these elements contrary to the fact that it has not done so during the past ten to twelve years? My second question is that Pakistan wants to expand its trade through economic corridor with China but last year it was seen that due to the closure of Pak-China borders for two days in a week the local traders faced numerous difficulties. Would Pakistan be able to resolve this issue in the current year? (Fida Hussian- Radio Network FM99) Answer As regards the first question, I am not going to get into the details what precisely would be said to the US and what will be the contents of discussions in the strategic dialogue. As I said earlier, we expect to discuss a wide range of issues during the US Secretary of State’s visit, including regional situation. As for trade with China, Pakistan and China have a very deep and broad engagement. We have regular meetings. Both sides are committed to enhance our trade and economic ties further. Any impediments or hurdles which may arise from time to time are resolved through bilateral discussions and interactions. Question I would like to ask that last year there was a plan to start a ferry service from Pakistan to Iran for the Quetta and Hazara community. There are some reports that Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed some concerns. What is the update on this issue and if there are some concerns have you done anything from your side? (Anwer Ali-WAQT TV) Answer Well, I don’t know exactly if and what concerns have been expressed. Transnational crime is a concern for all countries. While, we have bilateral understanding and very close cooperation to eliminate transnational crimes, there is also a very serious commitment to enhance our economic relations, people to people contacts and build further on our centuries old ties. ******************