FO terms increase in Indian defence budget an attempt to start arms race in region
Dr Faisal said that Pakistan has consistently been raising Kashmir dispute at all int'l forums.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal on Thursday termed the increase in Indian defence budget an attempt to start an arms race in the region but New Delhi know that increasing the budget won’t affect anything.
Addressing a weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that passion is most important for the defence of the homeland, adding that New Delhi must have come to know after February 27 incident.
To a question, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan is ready to send Rooh Afza. To another question, the spokesperson said that appointments on vacant positions at different embassies were being made.
He confirmed that Aasia Bibi, the woman acquitted by the Supreme Court on charges of blasphemy, had left Pakistan on her own free will. However, he did not specify which country she had moved to.
Reacting strongly to the recent statements of Indian leadership on the Indus Water Treaty, he urged the World Bank to fulfill its responsibility regarding empanelment of Court of Arbitration for resolution of water related disputes between Pakistan and India, adding that
Dr Faisal said: “Both Pakistan and India are signatory to the treaty but regretted that New Delhi is violating it. He said we are involved in the dispute resolution mechanism in the World Bank but lamented the matter has not been sorted out.”
“Pakistan desires that the Indus Water Treaty remains intact and its dispute resolution mechanism moves forward,” the spokesperson said and reiterated that Pakistan desires better relations with India.
Responding to a question, Dr Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan has consistently been raising Kashmir dispute at all the international forums to highlight the plight of oppressed Kashmiri people.
On Afghan peace process, he said Pakistan supported dialogue and political solution of Afghanistan with focus on “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned approach”. He said Pakistan urged all the stakeholders to converge their energies on negotiations to avoid conflict in the already war-torn country.
When asked about terror attacks from the Afghan side inside Pakistani territory, the spokesperson said Pakistan has conveyed its strong reservations regarding continued presence of such nefarious elements in Afghanistan. He said we have also urged the Afghan government to take action against these elements.
On chances of meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization moot on May 21-22 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, he said “informal handshake could be a possibility, however there is no meeting scheduled so far”.
Owing to chaotic situation in Libya, he said Pakistan’s mission was in touch with the representatives of Pakistani community and had advised them to register with the embassy for prompt coordination in case of any emergency situation.
On recent detention of some Chinese citizens by Federal Investigation Agency on charges of human trafficking, the Spokesman declined to comment, saying the matter pertained to Ministry of Interior.
