Pakistan is still undecided whether to recognise Libya’s Transitional National Council – which has ousted Colonel Muammar Gaddafi from power – as the new legitimate government despite the fact that the rebels’ flag has already been hoisted at the Libyan embassy here.
Islamabad enjoyed good friendly ties with the Libyan government for decades during Gaddafi’s rule and especially the current ruling party PPP has been very close to the former Libyan ruler since the days of party’s founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Nonetheless, in a clear defection from Gaddafi, the Libyan diplomats have raised the new flag with red, black and green stripes and a white crescent and star at the embassy building in Islamabad.
Foreign Office spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua, at her weekly press briefing on Thursday, showed her ignorance about the important development at Libyan embassy. “We have not received any official intimation to this effect,” she said when asked whether the government was aware of a change of loyalties at the mission. She also avoided a plain response when asked whether Islamabad would recognise the ‘Transitional Council’ as the new Libyan government.
“We are monitoring the situation in Libya very closely. Our diplomatic mission in Tripoli is fully operational and is also monitoring the situation. We believe that at this point in time, the situation is in a flux. So we continue to monitor it and in doing so we are guided by respect for the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of all states.”
To a query that American officials, who recently travelled to Peshawar, were traveling with the NOC issued by the GHQ, not by the Foreign Office, she said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for issuing no-objection certificates (NOC) regarding the movement of diplomats inside Pakistan. She also said Islamabad and Washington were trying to address certain issues at an operational level.
“As far as the issue of NOCs for the movement of diplomats is concerned, that remains within the purview of the Foreign Office,” she said. “On issues like this which are operational matters, the discussions are ongoing between the Foreign Office and the US embassy. I don’t think we need to go into details as to what was the exact reason for any NOC being issued because there are certain procedures that apply to all diplomats without discrimination. The foreign minister also referred to these procedures which are adhered to by all embassies and consulates,” she said.
Asked about the US assistance to Pakistan not being back on track despite Pakistan’s efforts so far, Tehmina said, “As I have said earlier, there are certain operational details which we are working out with the US government. There is, I will repeat, strategic convergence between the two countries and it continues to exist. It is at the operational level that we are addressing concerns that exist on both sides.” When her attention was drawn to media reports that the government had sent a letter to the US embassy for the withdrawal of 200 people, she said she had clarified earlier that the report about 200 US officials being told to leave was not correct.
Asked whether Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would be visiting the US next month and whether there was a possibility of him meeting the US president, she said, “The prime minister is expected to participate in the UN General Assembly session. The visit is limited to a few days. At this point it is difficult to say who he will meet with as the schedule is still being worked out. He is expected to meet some leaders participating in the UNGA Session.”