ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Thursday sent its envoy Sohail Mehmood back to India to perform official responsibilities.
Addressing weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan had handed over the evidence regarding harassment of its diplomats to India.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mehmood, the spokesman said, was in Pakistan for consultations for some days. “He also called on the prime minister. His presence here was useful and many important issues in addition to the harassment of officials in New Delhi were discussed. He has returned to India today (March 22),” he added.
To a question, he said Pakistan was ready for dialogue with India.
“On our part, Pakistan has consistently maintained that a result-oriented and meaningful dialogue, which is uninterrupted and uninterruptable, is the only viable solution to the problems facing Pakistan and India,” Faisal said.
For the record, and at the cost of repetition, he said Indus Waters Treaty had been made dysfunctional by India.
Its dispute resolution mechanism is currently not working, which includes the contentious Kishanganga and Ratle power projects.
“We have taken up this issue forcefully with the World Bank,” he added.
Dr Faisal said Pakistan was a responsible member of the international community and we make all possible efforts to ensure the safety and security of the diplomats stationed in Islamabad.
He said India had not shared any evidence with us about their complaints.
“On the other hand, Pakistan is seriously concerned over the treatment being meted out to the diplomats, officials and families, including small children, at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi. We have lodged strong protests with the Indian government over these unfortunate incidents of harassment and intimidation, evidence of which is widely available on social media. We have also stressed that the safety and security of the diplomats, officials and their families is the sole responsibility of the Government of India, under the Vienna Convention. We have proofs of the harassment,” Dr Faisal said.
He said Pakistan was disappointed over the non-issuance of visas by India for the visit of the 503 Pakistani zaireen (plilgrims) to participate in the Urs (anniversary) of Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer Sharif, from 19-29 March 2018.
He said during 2017, despite Pakistan's offer to send a special train, Indian delays had resulted in Sikh yatrees from India being unable to participate in the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev and the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Faisal said the Indian forces killed five Kashmiris including Raja Begum, 63, in Pulwama, Srinagar and Kupwara areas.
Responding to a question, he said last week’s meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and US Vice President Mike Pence was part of a regular dialogue process aimed at improving the bilateral ties.
Faisal said the prime minister was on a private visit to the US and “taking advantage of his presence in Washington, a meeting with the US Vice President, Mike Pence, was held.”
This, he said, was his second interaction with the US vice president since the unveiling of the US policy on south Asia in August 2017.
“The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on bilateral relations, the regional situation and Afghanistan and is part of the regular interactions between the two countries. These conversations are important to build trust and cooperation and to strengthen bilateral relations,” Faisal added. Pakistan, he said, had been consistently reminding its US interlocutors about series of successful military operations undertaken by the armed forces of Pakistan in the border areas with Afghanistan.
“These operation[s] are based on intelligence. Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to fight this menace till its logical conclusion is recognised, as it is in Pakistan’s interest as much as that of the others. It is a matter of satisfaction that US is taking actions against the terrorists hiding inside Afghanistan including Fazlullah, who have committed acts of terrorism across Pakistan. More needs to be done. On our part, Pakistan will continue to support efforts for bringing peace in Afghanistan,” Dr Faisal said.
The spokesperson said a defence adviser from the Pakistan embassy in the US, accompanied the prime minister during his meeting with Pence.
In addition to the meeting with the US vice president, Congressman Ted Yoho, chairperson of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific; accompanied by subcommittee’s Democrat Ranking Member Congressman Brad Sherman called on the prime minister and discussed matters related to Pakistan-US bilateral relations and regional developments, he elaborated.
Faisal said Pakistan and the US had held a series of interactions both in Islamabad and Washington. “As always the objective of these conversations is to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues and to find common ground on all issues,” he said.
As regards the issue of alleged militants’ sanctuaries, Faisal said: “Our perspective is that Pakistan has cleared the entire border region and there is no organised presence of terrorists within our territory. Nevertheless, considering the porous nature of the border and the presence of over two million Afghan refugees, Pakistan has continued intelligence-based operations to deal with the remnants.” At the same time, he said, Pakistan had continuously highlighted its concerns over the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
“We are pleased that this issue is now being addressed by the US side, but more needs to be done,” he added.
Pakistan, Faisal said, had always maintained that there was no presence of organised terrorist groups within its territory.
“We have been carrying out IBOs [intelligence-based operations] very successfully, as and when required. We have also repeatedly requested the US government to share intelligence, for us to take definitive action on our side. The Afghan government and the Resolute Support Mission need to ‘do more’ within Afghanistan to eliminate all safe havens and terrorist sanctuaries,” he said.
On National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua’s visit to Kabul on March 17, Faisal said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani extended an invitation to Prime Minister Abbasi to visit Kabul, which was being considered.
He said Pakistan’s policy on Afghan refugees was focused on dignified return of our Afghan brothers to their homeland. “In this spirit, the government extended the validity of Proof of Registration Cards until 30th June, 2018. At the same time, we would urge donor countries and aid agencies to make efforts for the resettlement of these returnees by building houses and initiating livelihood projects in Afghanistan. We hope that these efforts will make the process of their return sustainable and facilitate the smooth repatriation of our Afghan refugee brothers in [the] coming days,” Dr Faisal said.
He said President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Abbasi had conveyed their felicitations to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang of the People's Republic of China on their re-election to their respective offices.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also conveyed their felicitations to President Vladimir Putin on his re-election in the presidential election held on March 18, Dr Faisal said.
“Pakistan and Russia enjoy close, friendly and cooperative relations. Our relations are characterised by mutual trust and convergence of views on important international and regional issues. The leadership of Pakistan looks forward to working closely with the leadership of the Russian Federation to further strengthen cooperation in all fields of mutual interest,” he added.