ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: The Foreign Office on Monday gave a guarded response to Saudi King Abdullah’s suggestion that Pakistan sponsor India’s bid for observer status in the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
“The procedure for granting observer status to non-Muslim countries is under discussion and a committee has been appointed which would be meeting in the near future or perhaps it may take a while,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told a weekly news briefing here.
However, in an obvious reference to the Kashmir issue, Ms Aslam was quick to point out that the criteria, apart from what was being worked out, was that any country which wished to acquire observer status with the OIC should not be involved in any dispute with a member state.
On the Saudi monarch’s visit to India and its impact on Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations, the spokesperson said the Saudi foreign ministry would be in a better position to respond to that question. “We don’t put an embargo on our friends that they cannot have bilateral relations with other countries,” she added.
PAKISTAN-INDIA DIALOGUE: In reply to a question, the spokesperson reiterated that in the Indo-Pakistan peace dialogue flexibility was imperative to make headway on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
The spokesperson avoided giving a direct answer when asked if at the recently concluded foreign secretary-level talks India had demonstrated the kind of flexibility that Pakistan has been advocating on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ms Aslam disagreed with a questioner that no substantive outcome had been seen in the foreign secretary-level talks. She referred to a number of proposals that were discussed in the context of peace and security on which there was “more or less” agreement.
She said the third round of the composite dialogue was going to be very important and added that in the “much improved environment” the more difficult issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, would be addressed.
Answering a question, she said Pakistan was not negotiating any extradition treaty with India at this point.
INDO-US: When her comments were sought on the growing Indo-US and Indo-Saudi Arabia relations Ms Aslam said: “What we concentrate on are our own bilateral relations whether with the US or Saudi Arabia or any other country and how we can mutually benefit from those relations.” She added: “We do not have a veto on any country’s relations with another country, neither do we expect other countries to have that veto over our relations with these countries.”
Responding to a question on Indo-US cooperation on civilian nuclear technology, she said: “We have our own dialogue process with the US and our own dynamics in this relationship and we do not have to compare what the US does with other countries.”
However, she underlined: “But certainly if an exception is made for one country in the context of NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group), we would like that to extend to Pakistan as well.”
BAJAUR INCIDENT: Asked if Pakistan had sought an apology and compensation from the US government for the Bajaur incident, the spokesperson said: “We have not sought an apology, but we have made it clear to the US authorities that security inside Pakistan is the government of Pakistan’s business and also if there are any terrorists, militants or insurgents who cross over from Afghanistan from our territory it is our responsibility to take action against them and we have been doing that.”
When asked about the US government’s response to the Bajaur incident, the spokesperson said: “There is no response except that the US would be investigating it.”
IRAN: Articulating Pakistan’s position on the Iran nuclear issue, Ms Aslam said: “We are for a peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue within the context of IAEA. We acknowledge Iran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear technology under NPT and also Iran’s obligations as an NPT member.” She underlined that Pakistan was absolutely against the use of force.
To a question, she said that at the London meeting no decision had been taken to refer Iran’s nuclear issue to the UN Security Council.
Answering a question, she said: “If the vote is on whether this issue should be referred to the UN Security Council, our policy is very clear that we are not in favour of taking this issue to the UN Security Council.”
IPI PROJECT: The spokesperson dismissed the notion that Pakistan was under any pressure on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project and made it clear that it was going ahead with it. She said the Iranian deputy minister for petroleum was in Islamabad to hold discussions on the technical details of the pipeline project. “We are working in our national interest and we have repeatedly emphasised that we have our energy requirements which are growing with the growth in our economy,” she reiterated.