ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday said Pakistan would present its point of view to the Obama administration on the issue of confronting extremism and terrorism during the meeting being held in Washington from next week.

Talking to reporters here at Golra Sharif after condoling the death of Pir Nasiruddin Nasir, the Foreign Minister, who is leaving for Washington on February 23, said the meeting with a two member committee comprising US Special Representative Richard Holbrooke and Co-Chair of the Policy Review Panel Bruce Riedel would be very effective as it would provide interaction for policy review.

Qureshi said it will be very useful meeting to review six-year US policy towards Pakistan and Afghanistan and hold discussions on the policy review aimed at formulating fresh approaches to the problems and challenges facing the South Asian region. The Foreign Minister said the US administration wanted to finalise the review policy before the NATO summit being held on April 2 and 3 so that with the share of the observations of Pakistan and Afghanistan, fresh and effective policy could be formulated.

The Minister said in review process the US will be engaged bilaterally with Pakistan and Afghanistan and it will provide a chance to Pakistan to provide its own point of view on the policy to counter terrorism and extremism. Replying to a question, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan will take into confidence the international community on Swat deal.

He said Pakistan will make efforts to remove the apprehensions of the world community on the deal. On a query on demanding extradition of Ajmal Kasab from India for interrogation, the Foreign Minister said, “Pakistan has been making progress gradually and after preparing its preliminary investigation report based on the information from India, now Pakistan has submitted a set of questions to India in this regard.”

The Minister said, “Pakistan is now waiting answer from Indian side about the questions submitted to India and further progress on this issue depends on the response from India.” Qureshi said Pakistan has shown seriousness and sincerity in the investigation of Mumbai attacks. Regarding drone attacks from Pakistan’s own soil, the Foreign Minister said US has issued clarification on the previous statement and it is self-explanatory.

About his meeting with his Indian counterpart in the ministerial meeting being held in Colombo later this month, the Foreign Minister said the dates of the ministerial meeting clash with his visit to Washington. Therefore, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Amad and Secretary Foreign Affairs Salman Bashir will represent Pakistan in Colombo meeting. The Foreign Minister while replying to a question said Pakistan has decided in principle to open its diplomatic mission in Iraq and further action would be taken very soon in this regard.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday categorically rejected the idea that Pakistan is involved in barbaric act of violence and terrorism in Mumbai. Addressing a press conference after special cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, he said that the cabinet feels that finger pointing or coming to hasty conclusion would be playing into hands of common enemy that is terrorists.

The Foreign Minister said that it is in the interest of both Pakistan and India to lower the tension and avoid blame game instead of mud-slinging; however, the both countries would have to join hands to deal with the menace of terrorism, as the government attached highest importance to friendly and good neighborly relations as they are essential for regional peace and stability, he stated.

He said that Pakistan has offered unconditional support and assistance to India to un-earth the hands behind the barbaric act of violence and terrorism in Mumbai; he, however, made it clear that Indians have not sought immediate cooperation as they themselves have no clear of idea of what happened.

He said that the terrorism is a common threat to both the nations and we stand shoulder to shoulder to the Indian people to defeat this common enemy and defeat this menace. The Foreign Minister said that the people and all state institutions of Pakistan stands united against terrorism and extend their fully moral and material support to the Indian government and the Indian people.

The cabinet decided that all political forces would be taken into confidence and in this regard Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has already approached the leadership of PML (N) and PML (Q), he added. He said the government would put across its point of view before political leadership both in and outside parliament so as to be ready for any eventuality.

He told a questioner that there was complete harmony between the government and the armed forces and they are in consultation on the latest situation. He said that the cabinet unanimously condemned the barbaric act of terrorism in Mumbai and it offered its condolences to the government of India, people of India and the bereaved families.

The cabinet appealed to the people of Pakistan to maintain unity in this challenging time. Asked why the Government felt it necessary to convene a special cabinet meeting on the issue, the Foreign Minister said it is a serious situation and Indians feels it is 9/11 for them and being a responsible elected government, they cannot remain oblivious to the seriousness of the situation.

However, the cabinet in its meeting discussed in detail the evolving situation after the Mumbai incident. The Foreign Minister returned from New Delhi on Saturday morning gave in-camera briefing to the cabinet. National Security Advisor Mahmood Ali Durrani and Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik were also present on the occasion.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani telephoned Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh this morning and expressed his strong condemnation over the acts of terrorism in Mumbai. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism and appreciated the fact that Indian Prime Minister was the first one to telephone him after the Marriott blast.

The Prime Minister also expressed sympathy on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan with the families of those who lost their near and dear ones in these unfortunate acts of barbarism. The Prime Minister also extended his government’s full support to jointly combat extremism and terrorism.

Meanwhile Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab (India) called on the Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi at his hotel suite in Chandigarh. He welcomed the Foreign Minister in Chandigarh. Foreign Minister Qureshi thanked the Chief Minister for his visit and the courtesies and love offered by the people of Chandigarh during his stay.

The two leaders had a cordial meeting during which issues concerning Pakistan-India bilateral relations were discussed. Foreign Minister Qureshi offered condolences over the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
He said that such acts of violence and terrorism are deplorable in any civilized society and that the Government and people of Pakistan unequivocally and strongly condemn these atrocious acts of violence.-SANA

CHANDIGHAR: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Thursday vehemently condemned the statements on Indian part that Pakistan is involved in Mumbai deadly terrorist attacks. He condemned the attacks, saying, terrorism is a curse for whole humanity, however, to say Pakistan is involved in it without any proof is also condemnable.

Talking to a private TV channel in Chandighar he said, terrorism is a confronting challenge to the whole world and it’s the need of the hour to cope with this menace of terrorism together, Pakistan was also facing the same situation and hundreds of Pakistani citizens lost their lives in gory terrorist attacks.

He hoped that the ongoing peace negotiations and relations between both the neighbouring countries would not be affected owing to these attacks; however, he also conveyed condolence messages of the President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and assured all possible assistance to Indian authorities for looking into the matter.

Joint efforts, on the part of both the countries, were required to curb terrorism; Pakistan and India had a joint anti terrorism mechanism and institutions in this regard, in concise negotiations with India, Pakistan had stressed upon the joint efforts to combat this menace, as to exchange secret information’s with each other, he added.

He said, whenever, such condemnable incidents happened in India they always tried to show Pakistani involvement in it, to show involvement with out any solid proof was wrong.-SANA

SRINAGAR: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s five-day trip to India from Wednesday has now been upgraded to an official sojourn. The visit touted earlier as a his private rendezvous is now full of official engagements where both sides are scheduled to review bilateral dialogue process and to arrive at some decision on the issue of Sir Creek and the opening of communication, transaction and banking facilities across the LoC.

Besides holding formal discussions with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee immediately after arriving here on Wednesday evening at Hyderabad House, the visiting Minister is also scheduled to meet a host of Indian leaders. A meeting with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is also on cards.

Both ministers will travel to Chandigarh on Thursday to attend a day-long programme on the subject of cooperative development, peace and security in South Asia organized by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID). An interactive session has also been planned where they will face questions from the audience.

On Friday Qureshi is scheduled to return Delhi before visiting Dargah of Khawaja Moinduddin Chesti in Ajmeer via Jaipur. In the evening he will address Indian women press corps at the Women Press Club. Before departing to Pakistan on Saturday, he will interact with the leaders of Left Parties and top BJP leaders Jaswant Singh and L. K. Advani separately at their residences.

A Pakistani diplomat said Pakistan attaches high importance to the peace process with India as both share common objectives in many spheres to give a good life and bright future to their people. He said relations between the two nuclear neighbors have improved but all tracts of the peace process have not shown identical progress as he said the disputes like Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek continue to linger on.

Both sides are expected to give a much needed political push to the issue of Sir Creek. The officials of both countries are meeting in Delhi on December 2 to take a final call. A diplomat here confirmed that resolution of this issue was at an advanced stage which pertains to demarcation of borders.

“We are coming around to a point of view espoused by experts of both the sides who have suggested certain formula. It will be adopted at political level and then at expert level. Mid-stream border is an option. The area has been surveyed. The pillars that demarcated the border in 1941 have disappeared. So they took a fresh look at the border. We will be able to resolve this issue,” the diplomat requesting anonymity said here.-SANA

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday said that the political wing of the ISI was disbanded and termed it a positive development. While talking to the media persons at the local airport Sunday, Qureshi pointed out that ISI is a precious national institution and it wants to focus fully on counter-terrorism activities.

He said that the government was making all out efforts for repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from US to Pakistan and expressed the hope that these efforts would bear fruit. He announced that her son has already been brought back to Pakistan.

He dispelled the impression that agriculture income tax was among the conditions for IMF bailout plan, neither was it a condition nor this tax was under consideration these days, FM said adding that this tax was a provincial subject. He said that IMF package was meant to fill the immediate resource gap and to pursue an economic stabilization plan. He reiterated resolve to improve ties with India saying that his visit to the neighboring country will help remove misunderstandings between the two countries.

He said that he would meet his counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Indian leadership and bilateral issues will be discussed during the interaction. He hoped that his visit to India will help bridge the gulf and end trust deficit between the two countries and will prove fruitful in strengthening ties with India.
Foreign Minister said that it is our desire that both countries should live like friendly neighbors. He said that he will talk to the Indian leadership on water issue and added that Kashmir issue, already being a part of the composite dialogue between the two countries, will also be discussed.

About the Indian cricket team’s forthcoming tour to Pakistan, he said that the government wishes that Indian cricket squad should visit Pakistan. He added that government wants to improve people-to-people contact with India and exchange of delegations such as cultural delegations and sports teams will help improve relationships. He said that intellectuals, authors and sports persons of the two countries should have frequent interaction through exchange of delegations. Chief operating officer PCB Saleem Altaf said that Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt will visit to India this month.

To a question, Qureshi categorically said there was no possibility of martial law in the country stating that the government, the parliament and the armed forces have unanimity of views on national issues. People may have this view but we do not agree with it, FM said adding that we are moving forward to combat challenges with consultations and understanding.

Mehmood Qureshi disclosed that after the Jan 13-16 expert level meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad, he will invite FoDP Foreign Ministers to Pakistan in February next to move ahead with the plan to combat economic and security challenges confronting Pakistan.

About the IMF bailout package that is expected to be approved on Nov 24, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said its approval will pave the way for more assistance from other international financial institutions like World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Islamic Development Bank besides the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) Group and other countries.

It was interesting and heartening to note that our home-grown plan prepared by 16-member panel of country’s economic experts headed by Dr. Hafeez Pasha that has also been discussed by the federal cabinet and the talks with IMF had similarities in approach and experts believe it was the best suitable option Pakistan could avail under the given conditions, FM said.

He said that Rupee was gaining strength against dollar and capital flight has stopped and hoped that capital flight phenomenon will soon witness a reverse trend with the arrival of foreign remittances. FM said that an expert level meeting will be held in Islamabad from Jan 13 to Jan 16 during which projects will be identified and discussed in four sectors with the assistance promised by FoDP in its Nov 17 meeting in Abu Dhabi.-SANA

ISALAMABAD: Federal Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan being an independent and sovereign country would take every step to maintain its sovereignty continue its relations with the international community particularly neighbors and the Muslim world. Winding up the debate in the senate on Friday, He said foreign policy always depends on internal stability and the government is committed to bring political and economic stability in the country. He said it is time to put our house in order and build a national consensus on various issues. Read the full story