FO says Washington has raised no concern over Axact issue

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Denies Sunday Times report Sunday Times report about alleged nuclear deal between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

Foreign Office Spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah on Thursday said that the United States has conveyed no concern to Pakistan over IT company Axact’s alleged fake degrees scam.

Answering questions in a news briefing about allegations levelled by a New York Times report against Axact, Khalilullah maintained that no foreign country, including the US, has raised any concern over the issue.

He said Pakistani agencies were investigating the accusations against Axact upon directions of the Interior Ministry. “Investigations are underway and we have to wait for their completion,” the spokesman said.

ISI-NDS MOU:

Khalilullah confirmed the agreement between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) aimed at bolstering the fight against terrorism. He said that the accord between the two agencies was part of a bilateral agreement in the field of security and counterterrorism.

The spokesman rejected a Sunday Times report about nuclear deal between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and said that there was no truth to such reports.

“Pakistan is aware of its responsibilities as a nuclear state,” he said.

“Pakistan’s nuclear programme is meant for its security and there is a strong command and control system over it,” Khalilullah said.

Responding to a question, Khalilullah said that the dialogue process with India had not resumed as yet but efforts were underway to resuming talks with as “good ties with neighbours are a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy”.

Khalilullah said there was no hint regarding the visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pakistan.