Pakistan warns Syria attack will plunge region into deeper conflict
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Thursday warned that any foreign military action in Syria will plunge the already volatile region into a deeper conflict.
In a news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said Pakistan remains opposed to the use of force. He urged maximum restraint from all sides and called for dialogue among Syrians for peaceful solution to the problem.
To a question, the spokesman said Pakistan condemns the use of chemical weapons by any side. The UN report about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria is very vital in this regard and its findings should be thoroughly examined for an acceptable way forward, he added.
Dismissing Washington Post's report about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, the spokesman said Pakistan follows the best international practices and standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“Pakistan is committed to the objectives of disarmament and non-proliferation and a robust command and control system is in place.”
Chaudhry said the US State Department in a recent statement has also vindicated our point.
To another question, he said Pakistan and the United States have agreed to revive the exercise of working groups that will lead to the resumption of strategic level dialogue early next year.
About the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the spokesman said the federal cabinet has approved signing of an international convention for transfer of prisoners.
As regards proposed meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in New York, he said both the countries are in touch and ‘working out the date’.
“The meeting will provide a useful opportunity to remove the existing trust deficit,” said the FO spokesman.
About escalation of tension at the Line of Control (LoC), Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said Pakistan has expressed grave concern over the violations by India and urged it to respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement.
As far Pakistani prisoners in Bagram prison are concerned, the spokesman said, we are in contact with the Afghan and US authorities for the early release and transfer of these prisoners to Pakistan.
