ISLAMABAD, Jan 2: Pakistan on Monday asked India not to vitiate atmosphere for the ongoing peace process between the two countries by issuing statements on Islamabad’s internal affairs.
Reacting to a statement by India on the situation in Balochistan, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam advised it to “mind its own business”.
She said statements that were tantamount to interference in the internal affairs of other countries “betray psyche of a bull that sees a red rag everywhere”.
Referring to a statement by the spokesman of Indian external affairs ministry, she said “statements of these sorts do tend to vitiate atmosphere we worked so hard to build for sustaining bilateral peace process, to find just solution to the Kashmir issue”.
About remarks attributed to the chief minister of Balochistan about involvement of foreign hand, the FO spokesperson said “yes, there are indications and evidence”. She did not elaborate.
She said Pakistan had not contacted any country regarding involvement of their nationals.
On a question about the options on Kashmir, Ms Aslam said President General Pervez Musharraf had said these would be made public when the right time came. Currently these were being discussed between the two sides, she added.
About APHC leaders’ visit to Pakistan, she said “involvement and interaction of Kashmiri leaders in the context of moving the peace process forward was a welcome sign.”
She said interaction with the Kashmiri leaders was an ongoing process and any solution to the problem “has to be acceptable” to all the three stakeholders.
When asked whether the delegation was bringing some proposals, she said this could not be pre-judged.
She said there would be an exchange of views with the Pakistani leaders and they would also interact with the local media.
On progress on the opening of consulates of Pakistan and India, Ms Aslam said advance payment had been made to acquire a building in Mumbai.
She said owing to the objections by the neighbours, the matter had been delayed. She, however, hoped the issue would be resolved soon.
She said the building was being acquired as a temporary arrangement till the issue of the Jinnah House was settled.
About the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), she said Pakistan was in the process of ratifying the treaty.
Regarding the visit of former US President George Bush senior as a UN envoy to Pakistan, she said the dates were being worked out and the visit was likely in the third week of January.
She refuted a report appearing in a German newspaper that the US had informed Pakistan about attack on Iran.
When asked about the fate of Pakistanis allegedly tortured by the Greek police, she said the authorities had categorically denied any detention or torture.
She, however, said that a meeting with the accused “has not yet materialized” as the Greek authorities seemed reluctant. It was also informed that one of the three Pakistanis was under investigation for violation of immigration laws.
Ms Aslam said Pakistan was awaiting the results of the ongoing investigation into the matter.
Replying to a question, she said around seven Pakistanis were still at the Guantanamo Bay prison. She said the government desired that all those who were released became part of the mainstream society.—APP
