ISLAMABAD: Pakistan remains engaged with the United States at multiple levels and acknowledges that this is a very important relationship, while also looking forward to engaging and further solidifying and strengthening Pakistan-US, relations which remain very important for Pakistan, for the US and also from the perspective of the regional stability.
“The US is indeed the biggest, most powerful economy in the world,” the spokesperson at the Foreign Office told the media briefing on Thursday. Both capitals are presently in contact over the recent decision by US President Donald Trump to pause all foreign development assistance programmes for 90 days, which also affects ongoing programmes in Pakistan. “Over the years, USAID has worked on a number of beneficial projects in Pakistan in the areas of energy, education, health and Narcotics Control. We hope that these programmes will restart soon, and the two sides remain in contact on that.”
Pakistan welcomed the visit of a US businessmen delegation headed by a close aide of President Trump, Gentry Breach and says that there is nothing extraordinary about it. “But the Foreign Ministry is not processing [this visit]. It’s a regular activity for the investors to visit, and we look forward to deepening our economic engagement with the United States,” he added.
Pakistan and the US also remain in touch about illegal Pakistani immigrants at a time when the US has expedited the removal of all aliens and illegal immigrants under a new executive order, but the exact number of Pakistanis affected is unknown.
Commenting on the resettlement of Afghan citizens in the US, which are presently in Pakistan and Washington’s decision to suspend the resettlement programme, he said that they had taken note of the suspension and the US has informed Pakistan about the pause.
Pakistan says it has proof that terrorist groups inside Afghanistan are using weapons left behind by the US for their terrorist actions in Pakistan, but didn’t want to get into a blame game as to who was responsible for the presence of these weapons. “The proofs are regularly provided… and we have given sufficient proof and this remains an important component of our engagement with the Taliban authorities to convey that the terrorists enjoy sanctuary for attacks inside Pakistan,” said the spokesperson. Right now, the issue is that weapons were left in Kabul, and they are under the control of TTA as they have taken over the state. “There is a new administration in Kabul. And those weapons are being used for terrorist activities in Pakistan. In our view, the primary responsibility is of the Kabul administration. They have to ensure that the sanctuary is not enjoyed by terrorists. This has to stop.” he added.
Pakistan has welcomed remarks by Taliban acting Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Muhammad Abbas who has called his senior leadership to open schools for Afghan girls.
Responding to the European Union’s (EU) Special Representative for Human Rights warning Pakistan not to take GSP plus status for granted while also urging Pakistan not to use military courts to pursue cases against citizens, opposing the recently enacted laws like Peca to restrict freedom of expression, the spokesperson clearly stated that in interstate relations no one takes any state or any party for granted. “EU remains a very important partner for Pakistan. Pakistan-EU friendship and cooperation is based on universally recognised principles and these principles define Pakistan’s relations with the European Union. And GSP Plus is one component of this very rich relationship. There’s no question of anyone taking anything for granted,” he clarified.
“There is a very robustly working Treaty Implementation Cell which tries to supervise and coordinate Pakistan’s follow-up on the implementation of the range of treaties,” he said. Pakistan in this regard has put before the special envoy its perspective on the legal front on the issues of Peca or the trial of terrorists or other wanted people (in military courts). “This is not a one-off or there is no one sitting in judgement on what’s happening in Pakistan. It’s a collaborative dialogue between two partners and friends,” he said.
Pakistan remains in touch with a lot of other countries on state-sponsored terrorism by India at a time when Pakistan is one part of India’s targeted assassinations in Canada and other countries. “Besides there is news of their scouting in some other countries for further assassinations. So, it is part of a global terrorist undertaking by the Indian state. And this is something we have highlighted.”
News Desk adds: About the boat capsizing incident in Morocco, he said the foreign ministry was coordinating the repatriation of 22 Pakistani survivors. After “thorough investigations” the said individuals would be returned to Pakistan in batches as the first batch had already arrived via two flights in Islamabad on the day.
He extended condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of those affected by the recent attack on a Saudi hospital in El Fasher, calling it a clear violation of international law. The FO spokesperson told the newsmen that Pakistan was set to host AMAN 25, the 9th edition of the multinational AMAN exercise, from February 7 to 11.
He said that the confiscation of properties was an ugly facet of the Indian authorities’ campaign to crush dissent in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). As part of this campaign, assets of 11 individuals were seized in Kishtwar district, a few days ago.
He also lamented the Indian government’s decision to confer the award on Sadhvi Ritambhara, who faced criminal charges for facilitating the destruction of the Babri Masjid in 1992 and called it another indicator of the dangerous turn in the Indian polity. To another question, he said a total of 770 Pakistani nationals were imprisoned in Indian jails on varying charges.
Meanwhile, following the recent escalation of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, around 150 Pakistanis were stranded in the city of Goma. With the active engagement of Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Kigali, Ambassador Naeemullah Khan, the Rwandan authorities have allowed the entry of stranded Pakistanis into Rwanda, says an official statement. So far around 75 Pakistanis have moved to Rwanda.
