ISLAMABAD, July 30: Pakistan on Monday declared it was in touch with the Bush administration regarding its reservations on the counterterrorism bill adopted by the US Congress that imposes conditions on assistance to the country.
“We would continue to emphasise our position and to engage both with the US administration as well as members of the Congress,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told a weekly news briefing, adding: “It is for the US administration to see how they can, if they want to modify this bill.”
She said, “Pakistan and the US agree that we must build a long-term strategic partnership which is not only in the interest of the two countries but is also vital for peace and security in this region.”
When Ms Aslam was asked how she would characterise Pakistan-US relations at this juncture, her measured response was: “Obviously there are positives in this relationship and there are things we may not be happy with or things the US may not be happy with, but this is a relationship which is important for both countries and it is the stated objective of both countries to develop a durable, long-term, multi-faceted strategic relationship.”
Commenting on the resolution passed by the Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Relations calling for stern action in case of any US military action inside Pakistan and parliamentarians’ call for a review of country’s foreign policy, she said: “Parliament is a sovereign body, it can express its views on any issue of the foreign policy.”
The spokesperson told a questioner that it was important to draw a distinction between ‘war against terrorism’ and ‘efforts against terrorism’, making clear Pakistan’s preference for the latter as it entailed a comprehensive strategy.
“The difference is that we do not believe that we can combat or eradicate terrorism through military means alone. We believe in a comprehensive strategy.”
Replying to a question, Ms Aslam said Pakistan was confronted with a serious problem as there had been terrorist attacks in various parts of the country including two in the federal capital. “This is a situation no country can tolerate, we have to fight it, we have to eliminate it and for that we have a comprehensive approach.” She reiterated: “We are countering terrorism within our borders in our own national interest and will continue to do so.”
US ENVOY: Asked if it was against diplomatic norms for the US ambassador-designate to have official engagements without having presented her credentials, the spokesperson said: “If the ambassador is interacting with people there is nothing wrong with it.” However, on a more specific note she added: “The norm is that they (ambassadors) do not participate in formal talks and formal interactions before presenting their credentials. This goes for almost every country.”
She said before presenting credentials ambassadors could make courtesy calls, undertake visits and interact with local personalities to familiarise themselves.
PEACE PROCESS: To a query about the slowing-down of the peace process with India, the spokesperson underlined that Pakistan was more than ready to move forward. “We are ready to expedite and move quickly on the various issues that are before us. Certainly the delay is not from our side,” she asserted.
She pointed out that Pakistan had been ready to settle the Siachen dispute for a long time and it had expected forward movement on the dispute as it did on other issues.
To another query she maintained some progress had been made in the field of confidence-building measures and also CBMs related to Kashmir, underlining: “There has been no hiatus in the talks.”
The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan would like to see the two countries move from conflict management to conflict resolution for settlement of issues that have created tension in the region, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Ms Aslam declined to comment on the question of President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s meeting with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The spokesperson rubbished the reports in the foreign media about Pakistan helping Saudi Arabia in manufacturing of nuclear weapons. She told a questioner that Pakistan had never sought nuclear cooperation from Australia.
