Pakistan has said that North Waziristan Agency offensive is not linked to the foreign policy and called for early resumption of composite dialogue with India.
Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam during her weekly briefing here on Thursday said Pakistan has always voiced that both Islamabad and Delhi needed to resume dialogue process and have meaningful result-oriented discussion on all disputes, particularly the Kashmir issue.
She welcomed the statement of the Indian external affairs minister regarding resolution of bilateral outstanding issues through dialogue. She said that no formal contact has been made regarding Indian PM’s visit to Pakistan. However, the Indian trade minister is expected to visit Pakistan on February 15, 16 and 17. He would be attending the trade fair in Lahore.
Regarding intra-Kashmir trade and arrest of Azad Kashmir’s truck drivers‚ the spokeswoman hoped the matter would be settled soon as Pakistan and India were in contact.
Tasnim said, “The matter of Shakil Afridi is our internal matter and it will be dealt with according to the law of the country.”
She said that NWA operation has no link with foreign policy, adding, “If there is any problem regarding movement along the Pak-Afghan border then we would talk to US and Afghanistan.”
She said, “We are also in talks over installation of biometric system along the border.”
Regarding Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz visit to the US, she said that during the strategic dialogue the advisor had emphasised on US investment in Pakistan and also stressed for access to market. Both the countries have agreed to hold a conference in Pakistan regarding investment and economic growth in Pakistan. Besides this a working group meeting would be held in March on Pak-US trade and another working group on anti-terrorism would meet in April.
She welcomed President Barack Obama’s remarks about drones and said there was acknowledgement of Pakistan’s stance that they were counterproductive.
The spokeswoman said that she has no information regarding the president’s trip to China, adding that there was no scheduled tour of Saudi king Abdullah to Pakistan. “However we are hopeful of high-level visits between the two countries,” she concluded.
