ISLAMABAD- The Foreign Office has confirmed receiving Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s application for renewal of his Pakistani passport.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam, during the weekly briefing told reporters that the FO had forwarded Altaf Hussain’s request to the Interior Ministry for the required process. The Interior Ministry response will be sent to Pakistani High Commission in London, however, FO has not yet received it, the spokeswoman said. Tasneem Aslam further said there was no prisoner swap deal between Pakistan and Britain.
Calling upon Kabul and NATO to put in place strong  measures for better management of Pak-Afghan border Foreign Office Spokesperson said protecting the Pak-Afghan border is the shared responsibility of both the sides. She said Pakistan, however, has carried an extra burden regarding the protection and management of the border. She said we have more than twelve hundred posts and we also undertake surveillance at the border. She said Pakistan is keen to introduce biometric system but we also want equally strong measures from NATO and Afghan sides for management of the border.
When asked to comment on the perception that Abdullah Abdullah, who is likely to become the next Afghan President, is more pro-India and anti-Pakistan, the spokesperson dismissed the perception that any Afghan leader is against Pakistan. Tasnim Aslam said it is up to the people of Afghanistan to elect their new government. Pakistan, she said, has repeatedly said that it is not supporting any Afghan party. The spokesperson said we do not know who will form the next government there, but whosoever forms the government we will focus on building bilateral relations with the neighboring country and engage with their leaders for this purpose. The spokesperson said Pakistan wants peace and stability in Afghanistan as it is in the interest of Pakistan. Stability and and peace in Afghanistan will help us not only in countering terrorism and violence but also open new vistas for joint ventures and trade with the the Central Asian States, which Pakistan is keen to enhance.