Pakistan on Thursday confirmed it was discussing a framework agreement with the US for taxing NATO convoys, but they were still far from any such pact as any breakthrough in this regard depended on the outcome of ongoing parliamentary debate on the nature of future ties with the US.
Addressing his weekly press briefing Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit confirmed that Islamabad and Washington were discussing a framework agreement which would cover the taxation for NATO trucks and containers and other important issues such as compensation amounts for Pakistan for its loss in counter-terrorism operations. “We are discussing all these matters but the final outcome hinges on policy guidelines that we will get from the parliament,” he said, a day after US Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides held crucial talks with Pakistani authorities on the reopening of blocked NATO supplies.
He was asked about media reports that that Pakistan and the US were working on a framework agreement which will basically address two key issues, the compensation that would be made to our military to fight war on terror and the charges to be paid by NATO to Pakistan for shipment of containers to Afghanistan. He said, “As I said earlier we are discussing all these matters, but the final outcome would hinge on what final policy guidelines we get from our parliament. We will not pre-empt the parliamentary review. Different ideas are being discussed but nothing is final yet.” He also said both sides were still at odds over US drone strikes and NATO airstrikes on Pakistani border posts in November last year that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. He also made it clear that Pakistan had not abandoned its position of demand from US to bring the people involved in attacks on Pakistani outposts to justice.
When asked that US was trying to bypass Pakistan’s demands on bringing the Salala attackers to justice, he said, “There is no gainsaying that the Salala incident has setback our relations. We have our own position on the Salala incident, including demand that action should be taken against those who committed the Salala attack or who were involved in the incident. There is no change in our position.” To a question that whether the declaration of bounty for Hafiz Saeed and new procedures for PIA flights operating to the US were part of US pressure tactics over NATO supply routes, Basit said, “I have no comments to make as to the purpose of the US move, but Pakistan will not come under any pressure because ours is a principled position and a legal position.” “As for PIA flights to US, I may refer you to the Ministry of Defence or PIA,” he said.
Asked about any discussions in the meeting held by Pakistani authorities with the US deputy secretary of state about handing over of Hafiz Saeed to the US, he said, “The two discussed the whole gamut of Pakistan-US relations and other important issues particularly Afghanistan. So, let us not get into specifics at this stage. All issues of mutual interest were discussed.” “On the Hafiz Saeed issue, we have clearly stated our position that there is no concrete evidence. Pakistan would prefer to have concrete evidence to initiate a legal process but in the absence of that we cannot do anything. There is no reason for us to believe that the US does not respect our judicial and legal system,” he said.
He said, “All such issues have to be addressed through legal procedures. It is not desirable to get into public discussion on these issues.” Asked whether the US had violated international law by announcing bounty on Hafiz Saeed and Abdur Rehman Makki, he said, “I am not aware if there is any provision under international law regarding bounty on foreign nationals. This needs to be checked. The US has been making such announcements. In any case, it is only the state which has the sole jurisdiction over its nationals on its soil.”
To a question on President Zardari’s upcoming visit to India, Basit said, “We are of the view that the upcoming meeting between President Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over lunch will contribute towards achieving the president’s vision to promote intra-regional peace and prosperity in this part of the world and we are looking forward for a constructive engagement between the two leaders.” “Obviously during the lunch the issues, which continue to take priority in our bilateral relations, will be discussed,” he said.
He said as for United Nations Special Rapporteur Christof Hynes conclusions “we cannot agree more with him”. “It is encouraging that the international community is increasing focusing on the serious human rights situation in Indian occupied Kashmir. There cannot be two views on the need to revoke the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act and other such acts which have brought nothing but misery to Kashmiris,” he said.
He said, “Needless to say that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been struggling for their right to self-determination and no amount of repression can take this fundamental right away from them.”
To a question that when Pakistan does not have any proof against Hafiz Saeed, why had the government banned Laskhar-e-Tayyaba and Jamaatud Dawa and Hafiz Saeed’s entry into Islamabad capital territory, he said, “You are talking about two different organizations and individuals. I think a parallel cannot be drawn between the two.”
To a question on any possible US operation against Hafiz Saeed, he said, “I think the US has clarified it position by saying that the announcement of bounty is for information or evidence against Hafiz Saeed and Hafiz Makki, meaning that there is not enough evidence yet against them. We find it somewhat strange.”
