(2014-01-09) [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 There have been reports in the media during the last two days regarding upcoming Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue. Can you formally confirm the exact date and venue? Also, who is going to represent Pakistan in this dialogue? Answer I can formally confirm that there will be a review of the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and US. The advisor to the Prime Minister Mr. Sartaj Aziz will represent Pakistan while Secretary Kerry will be on the table from the side of the US. The dates are still being negotiated. The venue will be Washington most probably. Question Indian Foreign Minister has been quoted as saying that Indian Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh will undertake the visit to Pakistan in April this year. Has it been formally related to the Foreign Office? If yes, what are the dates? Answer No, we don’t have any confirmed dates. This question was also asked at the last press briefing and we said that yes, there was an outstanding invitation which was accepted. We would welcome the visit if it takes place. Question We have heard reports about the review of Pakistan-US dialogue. Why do we call it a review? Is it a round of the dialogue process? Secondly what kind of role can Saudi Arabia play in talks between TTP and Pakistan and establishing regional stability in our region and are there any projects in the energy sector on the cards between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia? Answer There are five working groups between Pakistan and US. Three of them have already met while the other two on Counter terrorism and Finance are expected to meet. We don’t have any exact date for them. If these working groups meet before the review, then the review session at the Foreign Ministers level will review their outcome as well, otherwise, they can take place afterwards at a date convenient to both sides. As for your second question, you must have heard from the Saudi Foreign Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Saud- Al-Faisal that Saudi Arabia is not playing any role in the proposed dialogue between Pakistan and TTP. Saudi Arabia as an important member of the Muslim Ummah and as Custodian of the Holiest places of Islam has a role in the Muslim world. People generally look up to Saudi Arabia for contributing to stability and peace in the Muslim world. Exactly what role Saudi Arabia plays, is up to them. But obviously, when Saudi Foreign Minister came here, there were discussions on the regional situation, on Afghanistan and other hot spots in the Muslim world. Question Is there any formal or informal pressure from outside for sending former President Pervaiz Musharaf abroad for treatment? Answer Not that I know of. Question Is there any progress on the resumption of Pakistan -India dialogue process? If yes, will it be before the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan? Answer We have no confirmation if a visit by the Indian Prime Minister is taking place. We have all along emphasized the need for early resumption of the dialogue process and we hope that it would take place as soon as possible, but again, there are no dates. Also, as you are aware, India is heading towards elections and we don’t know if we can expect to resume the dialogue process before elections. Question You said that Saudi Arabia is not playing a role in talks between TTP and Pakistan. However, there are reports that TTP is financed by Middle East and Saudi Arabia. Was this issue taken up with the Saudi Foreign Minister? Answer Well, issues are not taken up on the basis of media reports. We are in the process of strengthening our laws on terrorist financing. When this process completes, if and when funds come from abroad and they are directed towards terrorist financing, we will be in a better position to deal with that. Question What is Pakistan’s view point on the election in Bangladesh and violence which has ensued? Secondly, was Pakistan extended an offer to act as an Election Observer in Bangladesh? Thirdly, has the PCB contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their input regarding the possibility of sending Pakistan cricket team to Bangladesh for an upcoming cricket series? Answer We are constantly observing and monitoring the situation in Bangladesh. We have also noted the reaction of the international community. We might comment on this at some stage when deemed necessary. As for the second question, no, Pakistan was not extended any such invitation. For the third question, you know that T20 World Cup is in March, we still have two months. We are monitoring the situation and might decide afterwards. PCB has not contacted the Foreign Office but I understand that they are sending a security team to review the security situation. We still have time to decide. Question A British-citizen has issued a statement where he talked about breaking Pakistan. Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs taken this up with the Government of United Kingdom? Answer I would request you to refer this question to the Ministry of interior Question Can Pakistan play a role in improving relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia? Answer You know that there have been elections in Iran and a new government has come in. We understand that there are contacts between the two countries and they have denied reports of any rifts. Obviously, we would like to see cohesion and greater harmony in the Muslim world. Question Saudi Interior Minister is coming to Pakistan before the end of this month. Can you share the details? What agreements will be signed? Answer There are a number of things on the cards which are going to be discussed not just between the two interior ministries but at every level between the two governments. As the advisor Mr. Sartaj Aziz mentioned the other day at the press conference, we hope to hold the Joint Economic Commission within the next two months and the two sides have agreed to reenergize the Business Council. A number of other projects especially in the energy sector, infrastructure and investment also are being discussed. We hope that we will have some concrete achievements as a result of this visit. And we also hope that some high level visits will also take place. We understand that some agreement is under negotiation between the Saudi Ministry of Interior and our Interior Ministry. As soon as we have some final dates for the visit and the shape of the agreement, we will share the details. **************