Pakistan on Thursday said there was no change in its policy on the conflict with India over Siachen glacier, the world highest battlefield, and it had no plan to redeploy its troops from there.
Addressing his weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan said, “There is no change as far as Pakistan’s policy on Siachen is concerned. We are not thinking in terms of redeployment of our troops.”
Khan was answering a volley of queries on Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani’s statement on Wednesday that Pakistan and India should resolve all bilateral issues, including Siachen, and that the two states must ensure peaceful co-existence. Khan said, “The Pakistani side has made several proposals to resolve the military standoff over Siachen, including a proposal for re-deployment of forces. The proposals that we have made regarding Siachen, however, includes mutual redeployment of troops.” He said, “We are not thinking of any unilateral redeployment of troops.” He said Siachen conflict was part of the ongoing peace dialogue between Pakistan and India and it was being discussed by the defense secretaries.
Khan said the next meeting on Siachen issue was scheduled to be held in Pakistan and both sides were working on the finalization of a date for the purpose. He said, “It is in the mutual interest of Pakistan and India that we address all these issues in a meaningful and result-oriented manner. In fact, I would like to refer to the meeting between the President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh recently in which both leaders had underlined the importance of finding pragmatic and practical solutions to all issues.”
He said the two sides would continue discussing all issues in order to find some mutually acceptable solutions to their conflicting matters. On the test of the Agni-V ballistic missile by India, Khan said, “Pakistan was informed about this test in advance. This is as per the agreement that we have with India which was signed in May 2005 regarding the pre-notification of flight testing of ballistic missiles.” Nonetheless, he said Pakistan had already made clear and known its concerns about an arms race in the region.
To another question on a petition filed by Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed in the Lahore High Court seeking protection from the government following the announcement of a $10 million US bounty for him, he said Pakistan had a very clear position on that matter.
“We have a functional democracy and a very independent judiciary in Pakistan. If somebody has any proof against anybody, he is most welcome to take it to the court.” Answering a question, he said no final decision had been made yet on Pakistan’s participation in the NATO Summit to be held in Chicago during May 20-21 or on a visit to Islamabad by US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman. However, he said that at the same time, the government was developing a ‘work plan’ for new terms of engagement with the US in line with guidelines that were recently approved by a joint session of parliament. He said the Defense Committee of the cabinet had discussed the matter and a work plan was being developed to make sure of the effective implementation of the guidelines which had been provided by the parliament. He said, “Pakistan’s relation with the US is an important relationship. We want to address all issues in a way that both countries show respect for their mutual interests as well as the red lines that we have.” He said Pakistan had made it clear to the US that drone attacks in the Tribal Areas were a violation of our territorial integrity. He said, “They do understand our red lines and we also appreciate their concerns. At the end of the day, the two countries will have to find some middle ground as to how we want to move further.” “Developing the work plan for resetting the ties with the US is Pakistan’s own internal process and it will not take instructions from anyone. This will be a comprehensive exercise covering economic, security and political issues and will involve all stakeholders,” Khan said.
Complicated…
Tragedy took place in the Gayari area of Saichen, the most highest battle field in the world.Flying in a Jumbo Boeing it looks like a treat to be flying by the side of Raca Poshee, K-2 and Nanga Parbat peaks. Ice or snow looks like as it is artifical. back to this tragedy, of the Gayari avalanche which came down on othe braveest of braves, the 139 soldiers and civilians who met matyrdom on that day. One has sto be real gallant and strong to serve in those conditions and survive. A lot of casuality ha staken place on the both sides of the border. In the Kargil conflict around 2000 casualties were on the other side of the border where as about 385 soldiers and officers were shaheed. Way back our neighbor Col. Hamdani's son Major Javed Hamdani was camping in the same area, when an avalance come down on them. This incident changed the whole family. Last year I talk to the youngest son Shahid who was my close friend, now in Ohio felt the same pain what he felt on the death day of Javed bahi. It is very sasddening and disturbing. My prayers for the ones who lost their lives and also for the families. Please accept my condolences. " AAI MARD-I-MUJAHID JAG ZARA, AAB WAQT-I-SHAHDAT AAYA HAI, ALLAH-U- AKBAR ".
Joke of the day
Whats the dispute regarding Siachen?? It is "owned" by India.
Yup
I am just as shaken with grief as most other Pakistanis at this tragic loss…..
The proof lies in the lone tear that I just wiped off my cheek / it was more than we can collectively do on that damned Sir Creek.
But where are our nation changing war poets, our Sasoons and Owens…
Are they as yet cowering under an avalanche of deciet and lies / just as our sons too stare with opaque eyes / lips and limbs for ever frozen / unable to hear our eternal salaams, unable to say their last goodbyes/
The land of the pure shows true the theory of the Gaia / even as the blood flows in vain like the valleys of the Maya / Baichaari Mamta sar zameen pai yeh kaisa waqt hai aaya / kai dard e dil sai pehlai kashmir kamp gia tha / duryaai Sindh ko apnai ansoon sai shalak kar / Maan kee sees nai ab Siachen ko haai hilaya /
Oh weep not Mother Earth, for ye can never atone / for those with little minds and hearts of stone / Even as your writhing and rumbles moves this nation / you can never know the science of genetic mutation /
May those who perished on both sides of the Glacier, forever rest in peace, you've paid your dues with your priceless lives.
Our rulers instead of settling core issues with India have increased conflicts and there has been no positive progress on both sides of the divide. There are certain elements who for their own interest prolonging the issues. For instance Kashmir emerged as issue at the start of partition. Kashmiris migrated to Punjab and settled here permanently. Now they have the right to get jobs in AJK and Pakistan both. They have double vote. On the other side no Pakistani can get job in AJK nor he can vote. They are now ruling Punjab and holding higher post in Pakistan. At the same time they ask Pakistani to fight war for liberation of Kashmir and in this respect Pakistani nation have gone on war with India and rendered sacrifices in life and material. Later on Afghanistan war started in nineties and that is still on. Afghans in millions migrated to Pakistan and now now dominating business in Punjab and Sindh. May I ask what benefits were resulted out of these issues for Punjabis and other old natives of this land. As long as these issues are not resoloved with India peace and prosperity will reamin just as dream. Rulers are urged to settle these issues with India.This will end terrorism and open a new era for development and prosperity in this region. Indian and our people are the same with same culture and origin and they lived together since time immemorial. Cordial relations with India would turn this region strong enough to counter designs of super powers to establish hegemony over this region. Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris consisting of hindus and Muslim both. It is better they should go back and fight liberation war. Similarly Afghans should go back to Afghanistan and vacate this land. This will reduce burden on Pakistan.
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