ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: Pakistan made it clear on Monday that the bilateral and international agreements pertaining to the Line of Control (LoC) were binding and could not be re-negotiated.
“These agreements are not open for negotiations,” Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan stated at his weekly news briefing here.
In reply to questions regarding LoC fencing by India, the spokesman said: “We have stated our position and made our demarche to the Indian government through its High Commission here and our High Commission in New Delhi.”
He reiterated that the fence being erected along the LoC was a blatant violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions and bilateral agreement.
Islamabad’s concern regarding LoC fencing had been conveyed to the countries that had welcomed the recent confidence-building measures taken by Pakistan and India, Mr Khan added.
When asked what other steps Pakistan planned to take on this front, the spokesman said: “We cannot give all details but we will continue to use diplomatic channels and bilateral means to resolve the issue.”
On the Indian proposal of starting a bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, the spokesman said Pakistan had proposed to India that modalities in this respect should be worked out.
VIOLENCE IN KASHMIR: In reply to a question regarding escalation in violence in occupied Kashmir since the ceasefire, Mr Khan emphasized that the Kashmir issue must be addressed effectively. “There should be an end to the repression and violence in Kashmir,” he said. “If sincere steps are taken then we will move swiftly,” he added.
“The relations between Pakistan and India cannot improve substantially unless the issue of Kashmir is resolved,” the spokesman maintained.
VAJPAYEE’S PROPOSAL: On Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s proposal of a single currency and open borders in the region, the spokesman said: “I think he (Vajpayee) was speaking futuristically. Any progress towards a single currency and open borders requires a long and arduous journey.”
He pointed out that the European countries too had to resolve their political disputes before reaching this stage. “This is a vision that has to be translated into reality but for that we have to work very hard,” the spokesman said. “Then we can think about it,” he added.
About former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s statement made at a seminar in India that Pakistan had started a proxy war in Kashmir and that it was a decision taken by the politico-military leaders, the spokesman said: “That’s not true. The freedom struggle in Kashmir is indigenous and Pakistan has extended moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris.”
HC BUGGING: When the spokesman’s attention was drawn to a report appeared in a section of the press that Pakistan had also bugged the British High Commission in Islamabad, he said the report was an attempt to divert attention from the bugging of Pakistan HC Commission in London. The British government had lodged no protest with the foreign ministry either, the spokesman stated.
SADDAM’s ARREST: Asked if the capture of the ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussain would have any impact on Pakistan’s current policy of not sending troops to Iraq, Mr Khan said the arrest would make no difference. “Our position on troops remains unchanged and there is a context to it,” he stated.
The spokesman said Pakistan hoped that the latest development in Iraq would bring peace and stability. “We hope as an Islamic country the situation in Iraq will return to normal and people can choose their own government,” he said.
REPATRIATION OF IRAQIS: The spokesman said that Pakistan would repatriate 37 Iraqi prisoners who had illegally entered Pakistan a few years back and had served their prison terms. They would leave on Wednesday on a special aircraft provided by the UAE government, he said.
Mr Khan said the blast in Rawalpindi on Sunday night that targeted President Musharraf was a condemnable act. “Whoever is responsible for it has committed a heinous crime and we will get to the bottom of it,” he said, adding that a comprehensive inquiry was already underway.
In reply to a question, Mr Khan said the terrorist attack would not have any impact on the upcoming Saarc summit.
SAARC SUMMIT: Masood Khan said all the Saarc-member countries had confirmed their participation in the 12th summit being held in Islamabad. The schedules for meetings on the sidelines of the summit were still being finalized, he added.
The spokesman maintained that there had been indications from Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee that he would meet Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on the sidelines of the summit.