- Says accusations of ‘extremist links’ on envoy are false
- Senate body briefed on foreign policy in in-camera session
Pakistan has rejecting foreign media reports regarding the deportation of its diplomat by the Bangladeshi government, and termed it baseless.
The Foreign Office spokesman said that Pakistani diplomat, Farina Arshad has been withdrawn on the request of Bangladeshi government and there was no truth in the allegations leveled against her.
Earlier, the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka also condemned news reports published in local dailies regarding the female diplomat.
Earlier, Pakistan on Wednesday recalled one of its diplomats from Dhaka after she was said to have allegedly financed a suspected extremist on trial for espionage.
The move comes after Idris Sheikh, a suspected member of the banned Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh, told a Dhaka court about his ties to Arshad, saying he received 30,000 taka ($380), according to police detectives.
SENATE BODY BRIEFED ON FOREIGN POLICY IN AN IN-CAMERA SESSION
The Foreign Office representative Thursday clarified that a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs by Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, and Foreign Secretary, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Wednesday, was provided in an in-camera session.
It was in line with Pakistan’s earlier stated position on various issues raised during the briefing, the Spokesman said in a statement issued here in response to questions concerning media reports about the contents of the briefing.
Reiterating Pakistan’s position, the Spokesman underscored that, in keeping with Pakistan’s unflinching commitment to combating terrorism and support for all regional and international efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism, Pakistan welcomed the formation of the Coalition to counter terrorism and was awaiting further details to decide the extent of its participation in different activities of the Coalition.
The representative further said that Pakistan has a principled position on the situation in Syria based on respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria.
“We believe that Syrian government and opposition groups should exercise restraint and settle their differences peacefully,” the statement said.
“Pakistan supports all efforts employed at facilitating a peaceful Syrian-led and inclusive solution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people through a comprehensive political dialogue,” it added.
