ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Thursday said it is still waiting for additional information from India to conclude trial regarding the Mumbai attack.
“Trial is still going on with regard to Mumbai attacks. Additional information is required from India so that the trial can be concluded in Pakistan”, Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said in his weekly press briefing.
When his attention was drawn to India’s claim of capturing a Pakistani national named Usman Faisal allegedly involved in an attack on an Indian military convoy in Indian occupied Kashmir, the spokesperson rubbished the claim as unsubstantiated and unwarranted.
“We expect Indian authorities to share necessary information about him with us to enable verification of his national status. We have affirmed many times that terrorism is our common enemy and requires a cooperative approach to combat the menace rather than a blame game”, he added.
About the fate of Indian citizen Geeta Bharti, the spokesperson said that she is in touch with the Indian High Commission and efforts are underway to expedite her return. Commenting on the Chand Bibi case in India, he said that Pakistani High Commissioner is in contact with the Indian Foreign Ministry.
Commenting on India’s proposed dates for meeting of NSAs of the two countries, the spokesperson said these dates are under consideration of Pakistan government, adding that it was premature to talk about the agenda of the meeting which will be prepared in due course.
Talking about a revision in control lists under the Export Control Act of 2004, spokesperson said that the revised control lists of goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their delivery systems have been released. This "enables the Government to control export, re-export, trans-shipment and transit" of such weapons and delivery systems, he added.
"The notification signifies the continuing resolve and policy of Pakistan as a responsible nuclear state to advance the shared goals of non-proliferation," he added.
To a question about future of intra- Afghan peace talks, the spokesperson said that Pakistan’s role is that of a facilitator. The peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.
“It is, therefore, up to Afghans to decide about the date of the second round of peace talks. Pakistan facilitated the first round of talks and will also facilitate the next round. We hope Afghan leadership will stay engaged in the process of peace talks in order to promote a lasting peace in Afghanistan’, he added.
Earlier in his opening statement, the spokesperson said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be visiting Belarus on 10 August at the invitation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. This will be the first time a Pakistani prime minister visits the Republic of Belarus.
Sharif will be holding talks with Mr Lukashenko as well as the Belarusian prime minister, and is also scheduled to receive an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Belarus.
SUSPECT ARRESTED IN IHK NOT PAKISTANI: NADRA
INP adds: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) said Thursday that suspect arrested by Indian forces in Held Jammu and Kashmir was not a Pakistani citizen.
According to official sources, Nadra had no record of suspect Usman Khan alias Muhammad Naveed. Nadra reported that images shown by Indian media did not match with any Pakistani citizen.
On Wednesday, Indian security forces claimed that they had arrested a ‘terrorist’ from Udhampur area of Held Jammu and Kashmir following hours of gunbattle between BSF and rebels. They said Usman Khan belonged to Faisalabad.