Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would pay a four day official visit to the United States from 20th of this month at the invitation of US President Barrack Obama.
Giving details at the weekly news briefing in Islamabad Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said the Prime Minister would meet the US President and will also have several other important engagements during the visit.
The Prime Minister will brief the US President and the leadership on Pakistan’s policies for revival of economy, fight against terrorism and regional situation. He will also hold discussions with them on bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, defence, counter-terrorism, health and climate change.
During his stay in the United States, the Prime Minister will also meet with Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, have business interaction with Pakistan-US Business Council and US Chamber of Commerce and Industry and deliver a talk at the US Institute of Peace besides interaction with Pakistan community.
Asked to comment on Indian External Affairs Spokesperson about talks between National Security Advisors of the two countries, the Spokesman reiterated that Pakistan is willing to hold talks provided there are no pre-conditions and Kashmir is included in the agenda. He said it is not advisable to have a selective approachy to Ufa understanding between the two countries.
He pointed out that the joint press release issued at Ufa called for a comprehensive agenda including discussion on all outstanding issues, counter terrorism, confidence building measures, peace and security, LoC, Working Boundary and cooperation within the framework of SAARC.
When his attention was drawn towards statement of an Afghan national living in New Delhi regarding Balochistan, the Spokesman said Pakistan has given three dossiers to the UN Secretary-General with evidence of India’s involvement in Balochistan and Karachi and fomenting terrorism by supporting TTP. He said Pakistan expects India not to allow use of its soil for hatching conspiracies against Pakistan.
He also expressed the hope that Afghan Government would take up the issue with India to ensure that its national living in India is not used for fomenting terrorism in Pakistan.
The spokesman said India has been accusing Pakistan of supporting non-state actors for terrorism. He said majority of terrorist incidents staged by India on its soil to implicate and malign Pakistan have proved to be fake. In case of India, international community is aware that state actors have been involved in destabilizing and fomenting terrorism in neighbouring countries including Pakistan.
He said what Kashmiris are facing is also a state terrorism. To another question, he said Kashmiris are directly affected by Kashmir dispute and therefore a party to it. He said Hurriyat is main representative of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Because of the political stature of Syed Ali Gillani, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif invited him to visit Pakistan and exchange views on the current situation in Indian occupied Kashmir.
About peace talks on Afghanistan, the spokesman said Pakistan is ready to host another round of talks if the Afghan Government wants that. Pakistan firmly believes that reconciliation is the only way forward for peace in that country.
To another question he said Afghan allegations of Pakistan supporting militants are unfounded. He reiterated that non-interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan is key pillar of Pakistan’s Afghan policy. We are fully committed not to allow our territory to be used against any other country including Afghanistan. Pakistan has also said that occupation of Afghan territory by force by any group is condemnable.
Replying to a question, the spokesman reiterated that there are no footprints of Daesh in Pakistan.
The spokesman said Pakistan condemns Israeli settlements in Arab occupied lands. He said Pakistan considers right of self-determination as inalienable right of people of Palestine.
