ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson on Thursday said that Pakistan did
not want to level allegations before proper investigations regarding the
use of Indian-made weapons in the terrorist attack on Karachi Airport.
She took exception to being questioned on a statement by the interior minister who had said that weapons found in Karachi were from India.“First of all, it is improper of you to come here and ask me to comment on the statement of a federal minister. I didn’t comment on the source of the weapons used in the Karachi attack. What I said was that the matter is being investigated. When we have the results of the investigations, we will proceed from there,” she clarified.
To queries about Uzbeks and Tajiks being involved in the attack on Karachi airport, and Indian-made ammunition being seized, the spokesperson said that investigations were still going on and she did not want to make allegations without proper investigations.
“Terrorism is an issue that Pakistan and India discuss in their official interactions,” she said.Pakistan condemned the two incidents of US drone strikes, the first this year, which, according to media reports, saw Uzbek and Afghan militants being taken out.
The US drone strikes come immediately after several strikes by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in retaliation to terrorist attacks in different cities of Pakistan.
“The government of Pakistan condemns the two incidents of US drone strikes that took place near Miranshah in North Waziristan on 11 and 12 June. These strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Additionally, these strikes have a negative impact on the government’s efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region”, spokesperson at the Foreign Office confirmed after the weekly media briefing.
Meanwhile as Afghanistan readies for the second round of Presidential elections on Saturday, Pakistan says that it is taking additional measures to ‘beef up’ security along the border as it supports all efforts for a free and peaceful electoral process.
“Our authorities are taking additional measures for the second round of elections, including by retaining additional troops for this purpose. The measures include enhanced vigilance and security along the border, enhanced patrolling in close border/border crossing areas, enhanced checking by immigration staff, enhanced communication through existing coordination and cooperation mechanism and availability of hotline contact with Afghan counterparts,” said the spokesperson.
Congratulating the people of Afghanistan the spokesperson said that as a “close neighbour and fraternal nation, Pakistan stands committed to supporting the Afghan people in every possible way in their quest for peace and progress”.
You know the background of the presence of foreigners in Pakistani tribal areas. It goes back to 30 years and they still move to and fro.Obviously, terrorism is posing threat to all the countries. This is a menace which harms our people and our interests. This is a subject that is discussed when leaders meet.
On the issue of an abducted Chinese national and reports that he would be exchanged with a Taliban prisoner, the spokesperson said that she was unaware of prisoner swap.“We have said from this forum that we condemn this kidnapping.The government of Punjab has formed two or three teams to investigate this matter. It is our priority that the Chinese national is recovered safe and sound and at the earliest,” she said.
She took exception to being questioned on a statement by the interior minister who had said that weapons found in Karachi were from India.“First of all, it is improper of you to come here and ask me to comment on the statement of a federal minister. I didn’t comment on the source of the weapons used in the Karachi attack. What I said was that the matter is being investigated. When we have the results of the investigations, we will proceed from there,” she clarified.
To queries about Uzbeks and Tajiks being involved in the attack on Karachi airport, and Indian-made ammunition being seized, the spokesperson said that investigations were still going on and she did not want to make allegations without proper investigations.
“Terrorism is an issue that Pakistan and India discuss in their official interactions,” she said.Pakistan condemned the two incidents of US drone strikes, the first this year, which, according to media reports, saw Uzbek and Afghan militants being taken out.
The US drone strikes come immediately after several strikes by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in retaliation to terrorist attacks in different cities of Pakistan.
“The government of Pakistan condemns the two incidents of US drone strikes that took place near Miranshah in North Waziristan on 11 and 12 June. These strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Additionally, these strikes have a negative impact on the government’s efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region”, spokesperson at the Foreign Office confirmed after the weekly media briefing.
Meanwhile as Afghanistan readies for the second round of Presidential elections on Saturday, Pakistan says that it is taking additional measures to ‘beef up’ security along the border as it supports all efforts for a free and peaceful electoral process.
“Our authorities are taking additional measures for the second round of elections, including by retaining additional troops for this purpose. The measures include enhanced vigilance and security along the border, enhanced patrolling in close border/border crossing areas, enhanced checking by immigration staff, enhanced communication through existing coordination and cooperation mechanism and availability of hotline contact with Afghan counterparts,” said the spokesperson.
Congratulating the people of Afghanistan the spokesperson said that as a “close neighbour and fraternal nation, Pakistan stands committed to supporting the Afghan people in every possible way in their quest for peace and progress”.
You know the background of the presence of foreigners in Pakistani tribal areas. It goes back to 30 years and they still move to and fro.Obviously, terrorism is posing threat to all the countries. This is a menace which harms our people and our interests. This is a subject that is discussed when leaders meet.
On the issue of an abducted Chinese national and reports that he would be exchanged with a Taliban prisoner, the spokesperson said that she was unaware of prisoner swap.“We have said from this forum that we condemn this kidnapping.The government of Punjab has formed two or three teams to investigate this matter. It is our priority that the Chinese national is recovered safe and sound and at the earliest,” she said.
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