Nawaz, Singh likely to meet in September: FO

Published August 16, 2013
Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry. — File photo
Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesman, Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, on Friday said the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers were likely to meet next month in New York, adding that Pakistan had already apprised India of its concern over the situation on the Line of Control (LoC).

Speaking to media representatives at the weekly briefing at the Foreign Office, Chaudhry said all communication channels between the two countries were open.

He expressed the hope that after the prime ministers’ meeting in New York, tensions between Pakistan and India will ease and that the situation on the LoC would normalise.

Shelling and firing has flared along the disputed Kashmir’s de facto border since August 6, when five Indian soldiers were ambushed and killed in a remote district. India blamed Pakistan soldiers for the attack. Islamabad has denied any involvement.

In the latest incident on Thursday, seven civilians, including three women, were injured in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

The FO spokesman added that Pakistan would not allow the use of its territory for terrorism, a day after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that for India’s relations with Pakistan to improve, it was essential that Islamabad prevent the use of its territory for any anti-India activity.

Referring to US drone attacks on Pakistani territory, Chaudrhy said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon endorsed Pakistan’s stance on the issue.

In his recent visit to Pakistan, Ban said the UN’s position on drone strikes was very clear, adding that these should be in accordance with international law as well as international humanitarian law.

Chaudhry affirmed that the Afghan President Hamid Karzai would be visiting Pakistan later this month. He further stressed Pakistan’s commitment for advancing the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

The FO spokesman moreover stated concern on the escalating tensions in Egypt, where with a month long emergency was ordered by the military on Wednesday. Chaudhry said the matter would be discussed in the meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) next month.

Opinion

Editorial

Reserved seats
Updated 15 May, 2024

Reserved seats

The ECP's decisions and actions clearly need to be reviewed in light of the country’s laws.
Secretive state
15 May, 2024

Secretive state

THERE is a fresh push by the state to stamp out all criticism by using the alibi of protecting national interests....
Plague of rape
15 May, 2024

Plague of rape

FLAWED narratives about women — from being weak and vulnerable to provocative and culpable — have led to...
Privatisation divide
Updated 14 May, 2024

Privatisation divide

How this disagreement within the government will sit with the IMF is anybody’s guess.
AJK protests
14 May, 2024

AJK protests

SINCE last week, Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been roiled by protests, fuelled principally by a disconnect between...
Guns and guards
14 May, 2024

Guns and guards

THERE are some flawed aspects to our society that we must start to fix at the grassroots level. One of these is the...