The Foreign Office on Thursday said Pakistan was aware of concerns of the United States and some other countries about the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, but hoped that they would understand Pakistan’s economic compulsions in this regard.
Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan said at the weekly news briefing that President Asif Ali Zardari was to visit Iran to perform ground-breaking of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project that would be taking place on Monday.
He said several heads of state had also been invited to attend the ceremony.
Khan said the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources was working out the details. He rejected the impression that Pakistan was in a fix over the project due to foreign pressure and said the project, being in the country’s national interests, would be taken forwards.
To a question, he said discussions were underway with Iran about setting up an oil refinery at Gwadar.
The spokesman also confirmed that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf would pay a personal visit to Ajmer Sharif shrine in India on Saturday.
He said no official talks were yet scheduled with the Indian leadership.
Asked to comment on Indian prime minister’s allegations that Pakistan was not doing enough against terrorism, he said Pakistan condemned terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations.
He said it was a common threat and required a common strategy and cooperation amongst all countries of the region.
As for the Mumbai attacks, Khan said Pakistan had repeatedly told India to provide proof that could stand scrutiny in the court of law as mere statements were not enough.
The FO spokesman said Pakistan wanted resolution of all issues with India through dialogue, including the recent skirmishes along the Line of Control.
He said Pakistan had even gone to the extent of offering investigations under the mechanism of UN system.
To a query on granting MFN status to India, he said the Pakistani government was committed to its decision in this regard, but the two countries had to complete the required processes first.
When his attention was drawn towards reports that India wanted Pakistan to seek NOC for construction of water reservoirs in Azad Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan, the spokesman said Pakistan did not need any NOC from India.
“This position has also been supported by the latest verdict of the international court of arbitration in Kishan Ganga dispute,” he said.
Khan, however, added that per provisions of the Indus Basin Treaty, India was under obligation to inform Pakistan before hand if it wanted to build any structure on three Western rivers meant for Pakistan.
To a question, Khan said there was an understanding with the United States for initiation of case against Raymond Davis for killing two Pakistanis in Lahore, but so far no such development was in his knowledge.
Asked to sum up the five-year foreign policy of the present government, the spokesman said the focus had been on improving relations with regional countries, including India and Afghanistan.
He said it was also pertinent that the government involved parliament in the formulation of the country’s foreign policy.
US absolutely aware of paki antics….and knows how to deal with paki beggars…..
US is such a lusty animal but Pakistanis will teach American the lesson they will never forget .We will damage your economy by investing over Pakistan and will pursue
our own International Agenda letting aside the agenda of US to Control the Central Asia :p
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What's pooping the party …
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