ISLAMABAD, March 17: The foreign ministry spokesman here on Monday refused to offer any comment on the outcome of the Azores summit of the leaders of the United States, Britain and Spain.
However, the spokesman, Mr Aziz Ahmad Khan, reiterated Pakistan position that Islamabad sought a peaceful settlement of the Iraq problem, giving every chance to peace, and allowing UN weapons inspectors to complete their job.
About Pakistan’s view of the work so far conducted by the UN weapons inspectors, he said they indicated that they found the attitude of the Iraqi authorities positive and cooperative.
The spokesman said that the Pakistani ambassador in Baghdad had been advised to take appropriate measures for the safety of a small number of Pakistanis in Iraq while still manning the mission there in the event of an outbreak of war. However, there was a large population of Pakistani expatriates in Kuwait who had been already issued an advisory from Islamabad to ensure their safety in view of imminence of war.
Asked whether Pakistan had been requested (by the US) for use of its territory in case of war against Iraq, Mr Aziz Khan replied in the negative and said Pakistan would not permit use of its soil in an Iraq war. Even as a partner in the international anti-terror coalition in Afghanistan, he recalled, Islamabad had not allowed use of its territory for the offensive in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali’s proposed visit to Washington from March 26 at President Bush’s invitation was “still on” when a reporter asked whether the trip remained on the cards. The spokesman also confirmed that Prime Minister Jamali will be making his first official visit abroad from March 24 to 26 to the People’s Republic of China.
The spokesman strongly contested what he described immoral attempts by some ill-intentioned states to classify Pakistan as a terrorist state because of its diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris’ freedom struggle and declared that the Kashmir struggle was recognized round the world as a genuine, indigenous freedom struggle.
