ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday condemned the US Senate's report on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) torture of detainees and said steps taken for countering terrorism must be transparent.

"Pakistan deplores the Senate report on CIA torture of detainees. It is [a] violation of international laws. Human rights laws must be respected," said spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam, during the foreign office’s weekly briefing in Islamabad.

"Although there are no specific nationalities mentioned; however, we have noted that the US government has assured that this would not occur again."

The US Senate Intelligence Committee released a report on Tuesday on the CIA’s use of torture for coercing information from terror suspects after the attacks of Sept 11, 2001.

Chinese projects in AJK

Aslam reacted strongly to Indian Eternal Affairs Minister Sushma Suraj statement that China should stop its projects in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and said Pakistan would go ahead with all projects in AJK because we have not objected to any development project in Indian-held-Kashmir which benefits its residents.

India has expressed its concerns to China about its involvement in infrastructure building projects, including an economic corridor in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and asked them to cease such activities.

Malala winning the Nobel prize

On Malala Yousufzai winning the Nobel prize, the spokeswoman said Pakistan is proud of Malala's victory but added that the activist cannot come back to Pakistan due to security threats to her life.

The 17-year-old Malala, the youngest ever Nobel winner, collected the award at a ceremony in the Norwegian capital to a standing ovation, on Wednesday.

Ban Ki-moon offers to play role in resolving Kashmir dispute

Aslam welcomed the statement made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in which he offered to play his role in resolving the Kashmir dispute and said that issue remains the root cause of tension between India and Pakistan.

"Final settlement of this issue must be through plebiscite and in accordance with the wishes of people of Kashmir," Aslam remarked.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence from Britain over Kashmir. The picturesque region is held in part by Pakistan and India, but claimed in full by both.

Pakistan condemns killing of Palestinian cabinet minister

Pakistan strongly condemned the killing of Palestinian cabinet minister by Israeli forces on Wednesday.

Foreign Office spokeswoman said this is an unprecedented act of barbarism. She further said killings of the people of Palestine must come to an end.

The Foreign Office spokeswoman also stated that Pakistan expects the UN, OIC and international community to play their due role in this regard. Aslam said an independent viable state of Palestine with Al Quds as its capital is the only way to guarantee lasting peace and stability in the region.

A senior Palestinian official died Wednesday after he was struck by Israeli forces during a protest march in the West Bank, prompting international calls for an investigation into the incident.