Expressing anger over Afghanistan’s demand for stern action against banned militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), which Kabul has blamed for recent deadly suicide attacks against Shia mourners in the country, Pakistan on Thursday asked its western neighbour to stop the “blame game” as it was harmful to bilateral ties and counter-terrorism cooperation.
“It is high time to get out of the blame game as such and to move forward in the spirit of cooperation. Publicly accusing Pakistan of unfounded events and things do create problems at some stage,” Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters at his weekly press briefing.
He said Pakistan would like to have a relationship that was free of recrimination and blame games. He was asked about Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s statements concerning terrorist attack on an Ashura procession in Afghanistan, with the questioner saying there had been similar accusations against Pakistan in the past.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the reprehensible crime which resulted in the loss of 60 precious lives. We express our deepest condolences to the brotherly people of Afghanistan,” Basit replied.
“Extremism and terrorism, as you all know, are a common scourge and a global phenomenon. All of us should join hands in order to defeat these menaces. We have seen President Karzai’s reported remarks regarding a banned organisation. We would encourage Kabul to share evidence, if any, with us through official channels. The people of Pakistan are committed to fighting against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he added.
Another Pakistani official, on condition of anonymity, said that LJ had been banned by Pakistan a long while ago and the militant body was responsible for killing of hundreds of Pakistanis. “Linking LJ to Pakistan and demanding action on our part against it is absurd,” he said.
ENVOYS’ CONFERENCE: In his opening statement earlier, the Foreign Office spokesman said an important envoys’ conference of Pakistan’s ambassadors and high commissioners would be held here in Islamabad on December 12 and 13 to review the situation following the NATO/ISAF attacks on Pakistani checkposts in Mohmand Agency.
“The envoys conference will deliberate on different aspects of the foreign policy of Pakistan,” he said. Pakistan had been pursuing a scrupulous foreign policy aimed at having better relations with all countries on an equal basis and under the charter of the United Nations to ensure peace, security and stability in the region, he added.
However, he said that foreign policy as a whole was not being changed but relations with NATO and US following the attack were being reviewed as directed by the federal cabinet and Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC).
When asked what reviewing the relationship with NATO and the US meant and also what were Pakistan’s demands from the US in order to reset the relationship, he said: “You will find out when the time comes.” To a question about the present status of Pak-US relations, he said Pakistan had bilateral relations with the US and under instructions from the cabinet and the DCC, those relations were being reviewed.
Basit avoided answering questions about the health of President Asif Ali Zardari and his departure for Dubai for treatment.
He said Pakistan boycotted the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan following the NATO attack. “However, it does not mean that Pakistan is dissociated with the peace process of Afghanistan,” he added.
He said future relations of Pakistan with NATO depended on the decision of the foreign policy review in that regard. “Pakistan is still committed to playing an important role in the peace and stability of Afghanistan along with the international community,” he said.
He said further that the decision to boycott the Bonn Conference was based on the larger national interest but Pakistan would continue with its efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
On negotiations on the issue of Osama bin Laden’s family to be handed over to Saudi Arabia and whether Saudi Arabia had contacted Pakistan formally, he said: “Not to my knowledge.”
Responding to a query on reports about Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai pleading guilty to charges of accepting funds from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), he said: “Yes, we have seen the reports. We are still awaiting details of his reported confession from our embassy in Washington DC. At this stage, I therefore would refrain from commenting on this development.”
Answering a question about the Australian government’s decision to export uranium to India, Basit said: “We did take up this matter with the Australian government. As you all know, Pakistan has always tried for a non-discriminatory regime for cooperation in civilian nuclear technology. You also know that Pakistan is an energy deficient country and our energy needs have been multiplying.
