The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs in its meeting was briefed about the prime minister’s recent visits to United Nations and United States and asked for more information about the dossiers on RAW’s involvement in FATA and Balochistan, which were submitted to the UN and US.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Nuzhat Sadiq at the Parliament House on Thursday. Members of the committee initially proposed that the documents, which were submitted, be shared, but Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz expressed regret due to the sensitivity of making it public.
The committee meeting was primarily focused on the recent visits by the prime minister and relations with India, including Kashmir issue, RAW’s involvement and LOC tensions.
Calling both the visits a success, the foreign affairs secretary said that PM’s address to the General Assembly as well as the joint statement after meeting with President Barrack Obama gave Pakistan’s point of view in a very clear and straightforward manner. He said that it was praised by the people of Pakistan and acknowledged by the rest of world, except India.
He briefed the committee on the meetings on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session and said that they were a success and Pakistan vividly opposed India’s permanent seat in the Security Council. He said that in a meeting with the American president, the need for taking the bilateral relationship beyond security cooperation, and towards trade and economic development, was reiterated.
The members of the committee, however, questioned the lack of mention of CPEC in the joint statement. The foreign secretary in his response said that the US did not object to the corridor project.
The meeting was attended by Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Senator Shibli Faraz, Senator Javed Abbasi, Senator Tahir Mashhadi, Senator Daud Khan Achakzai, Adviser to Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.
Later, Anil Shastri, son of Lal Bahadur Shastri, along with his wife made a courtesy call to the chairman committee and exchanged souvenirs.
