ISLAMABAD - Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam Thursday rejected the notions that India has isolated Pakistan over the SAARC Summit concluded in Kathmandu today.
“Pakistan played a very constructive role in the summit and very actively participated in deliberations in the Standing Committee and in the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister has had interactions with SAARC leaders. I do not see how Pakistan was isolated,” Tasnim told a questioner during the weekly press briefing here.
The spokesperson said Pakistan wants good neighbourly relations with India on the basis of equality, adding that Pakistan wants peace in the neighbourhood for development of the entire region.
She said the Prime Minister in his address to the SAARC summit also stressed the need for focussing more on the public welfare than the arms.
Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan had played a constructive role in negotiations leading up to the SAARC summit and actively participated in the SAARC standing committee and council of ministers. The host country also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role.
The spokesperson said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also held meetings with six SAARC leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
To a question about Indian Home Minister’s allegations against Pakistan, Tasnim noted that unsubstantiated allegations will not lead to resolution of any problem. She said Pakistan has condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation. We have paid more price in blood and money than any other country to counter terrorism. She emphasized that all the regional countries need to cooperate to fight this menace.
On the US drone attacks, the spokesperson said Pakistan has demonstrated opposition to these strikes not only in words but has also taken practical steps to highlight this issue at multilateral forums. The resolutions passed by the world forums have questioned the legality of these strikes. “As we have been saying there is now more awareness about the issue of drone attacks. The international public opinion and human rights organizations are reporting about it very regularly”, she said response to a question.
The spokesperson declined to comment on Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement on the US, saying Pakistan has very comprehensive and constructive engagement with the US. Both the countries discuss their convergences and divergences on issues at the bilateral meetings.
Commenting on the American media’s allegations that Robin Raphel was spying for Pakistan, Aslam refuted the reports saying Raphel is regarded as an expert on Pakistani affairs. She understood South Asia very well. Islamabad has had very positive interactions with her.
These are unsubstantiated media reports. There has not been any statement or allegation of this nature from US Administration.
Commenting on Iran’s nuclear talks with major powers the spokesperson said that naturally, everyone would have liked to see the closure of this issue through an agreement before the deadline of 24 November.
“That has not happened but Pakistan is happy to see that negotiations would continue and additional seven months have been given to complete the negotiations,” she added.