chosen.
However, till date there has been no reaction by any foreign government related to Parrikar’s remarks.Also, he said that Pakistan was committed to good neighbourly relations with all the neigbouring countries, including India.
“The Senate’s Defence Committee has also condemned the statement of Indian defence minister and expressed concern. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism and has suffered more than any other country in the world. We have lost more than sixty thousand lives of our citizens and suffered economic losses of more than $100 billion. Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The statement of the Indian defence minister should be a matter of concern to not just Pakistan but also others in the region and beyond,” the spokesman added.
He also pointed to an earlier statement “of even more grave nature” made by the Indian National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval which also confirmed Pakistan’s apprehensions about India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan. However, the spokesman refrained from stating what Doval had said at the time.
Commenting on the ongoing investigations against Axact, the spokesman to a query said that a number of US entities and educational institutions had allegedly been named in the Axact scandal.
“Therefore, on the request of the investigating authorities concerned, we have approached the US side for assistance in the ongoing investigation against Axact in Pakistan,” he said.A week after he was asked about the reason why Declan Walsh from New York Times was asked to leave Pakistan, the spokesman realised that it was for the Ministry of Information to respond.
Regarding reports that there was a presence of the Islamic State in Pakistan, the spokesman did not agree.“There is no footprint of ISIL in Pakistan. The people of Pakistan have no ideological, ethnic or linguistic affinities with the organisation and its members. However, we have seen some pamphlets and wall-chalking. That is no proof of the presence of ISIL in Pakistan. Nevertheless, we are cognizant of the threat the ISIL poses. Our security agencies are aware of this threat and will take appropriate measures, if needed,” he responded.
Regarding Pakistan’s statement on the death sentence given to the former Egyptian president which had annoyed Cairo, the spokesman said that this was based on internationally-recognised principles.
“However, I would like to underscore that the relations between the people of Pakistan and the people of Egypt are deep rooted in history, culture and shared values. We are confident that the fraternal bonds existing between the peoples of Pakistan and Egypt would be further strengthened in the days to come,” he added.
To an earlier question about the Afghan refugees who are expected to leave Pakistan by the end of the year, the spokesman commented, “Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR are working closely to devise modalities and realistic timelines for the return of Afghan refugees. Efforts are also being made for mobilising international support and resources for creating necessary pull factors inside Afghanistan to incentivise the return of refugees.”
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