May 12, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

KARACHI, May 11: The French ambassador to Pakistan, Regis de Belenet, said that the talks between the Pakistan government and the militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and other tribal areas could prove to be fruitful if those militants also responded with the same spirit and gave up arms.

He was speaking at a function organised by the English Speaking Union of Pakistan here on Saturday. The French envoy expressed his views on various international, bilateral trade and security-related issues.

He said that terrorism had nothing to do with religion as these terrorists were trying to hijack religion particularly Islam. “It will be a big mistake to identify terrorism with Islam”, he said, adding that the fight against terrorism was multi-faceted.

Referring to the Pakistan’s effort to strike a deal with the so-called Talibans in the FATA, the French ambassador said that the establishment of law and order in that territory was very important. In this context, he also referred to the recent statement of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, in which he had said that talks would be held with only those militants who would lay their arms.

He said that France was very much supportive of the stance of the British foreign secretary on the issue.

Mr Belenet was of the view that issues could not used by employing military means; however, they could only be used for creating an environment conducive to dialogue.

The French envoy reiterated his country’s stance against nuclear proliferation and was concerned that Pakistan had not signed the CTBT and the NPT. In this regard he referred to the French government’s concern over the A.Q. Khan’s network and claimed that certain questions in that regard needed to be answered, particularly about the link between his network and other networks. It was important, he said, in view of the recent developments, especially in the context of Iran.

With regard to the divergent stance on the Indian nuclear programme, the French envoy said that the major difference between India and Pakistan was their proliferation record. “I can’t recall any Indian A.Q. Khan,” he said.

The ambassador also said that France had decided to set up French Development Agency in Pakistan to boost bilateral economic and trade ties with a special focus on the energy sector and to help in infrastructure development, education and healthcare.