Congressional hearing on Balochistan: Pakistan has conveyed concerns to Washington: foreign office

Foreign Office on Thursday said Pakistan has conveyed its concerns to Washington regarding the congressional hearing on Balochistan issue, describing it as the country's internal matter. "We have conveyed our concerns and raised the issue with the US authorities both in Washington and Islamabad. We believe Washington fully understands our position (on Balochistan)," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said while responding queries of reporters during a weekly press briefing.
He said the matter was clarified by the US State Department on Wednesday, terming Balochsitan's issue as Pakistan's internal matter. The remarks came following the US House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday conducted a meeting, which discussed the killings of people in Balochistan and suggested that financial assistance should be suspended to Pakistani forces present in the volatile province.
About the US-Taliban talks in Qatar, the spokesman said Pakistan has been kept informed by the US through diplomatic channels about the initial contacts with the Taliban. However, he clarified that as far as the visit of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to Qatar was concerned, it was purely a bilateral visit aimed at further expanding relationships with Qatar in different fields.
"The prime mnister's visit was nothing to do with the opening of Taliban office in Qatar," he clarified, denying any meeting of the prime minister and the Taliban in Qatar during the visit. He termed the prime minister's visit and US-Taliban talks in Qatar as a 'coincidence', saying summit level visits are planned in advance. He said though during his talks with the Qatari leadership, Prime Minister Gilani discussed the regional situation including the Afghan issue, Pakistan firmly supports the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process.
When asked about the Washington pressure on Islamabad for pulling out of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, the spokesman said there was no change and shift in Islamabad's policy on the gas pipeline project. "Pakistan is committed to the completion of the gas pipeline project by 2014," he said, adding the project was important for our economy and to meet the energy deficit.
About the Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's visit to Moscow, he said that Russia was interested in financing different energy-related projects including CASA 1000 and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. He said Pakistan would also welcome Russia's or any other country's investment in important IP gas pipeline project. The spokesman said that Islamabad was looking forward to welcoming the Russian President in Pakistan for a Quadrilateral Summit during the second half of this year.
To another question, he said that a trilateral summit would be held in Islamabad on February 16-17 2012. He said that the trilateral mechanism between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran was important for Islamabad to discuss issues pertaining to co-operation on counter-terrorism and transnational organised crimes including drug and human trafficking and border management.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad will attend the summit and discuss host of issues pertaining to regional peace, security and stability. When asked what would be Pakistan's position if Iran retaliated by attacking neighbouring Islamic countries owing to the growing US pressure on Tehran, Basit said that Pakistan wants all the issues relating to the Iranian nuclear programme be resolved peacefully through dialogue. He said, "we can not afford another conflict or volatile situation in the region."
To another question regarding the continuing US drone attacks, he described these strikes as unlawful and unacceptable. About reopening of Nato's supplies, he said the final decision in this regard would be made by the parliament. When asked about the divergent positions of Pakistan and China on Syrian issue, he said Pakistan and China enjoy unique relationship. He said all the countries have valid reasons to vote in favour or against any particular UN resolution. He defended Pakistan's stance on UN resolution on Syria, saying there was substantial and substantive amendment to the original draft resolution on Syria which enabled Pakistan to vote in favour of the draft resolution.
To a question, he said Pakistan seeks return of Afghan refugees to their homeland with honour and dignity and in this regard Islamabad was in contact with the relevant UN agencies. Earlier, the spokesman appreciated the WTO for approving the EU's trade package for Pakistan. He said Pakistan also especially appreciates the EU for giving special concessions to Pakistan in trade. This, he said, reflects their commitment towards strengthening the Pakistan's economy through trade. He said Pakistan has also signed a Preferential Trade Agreement with Indonesia which is yet another diplomatic success.
He further informed that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is arriving in Islamabad on Friday (today) for a two-day state visit, adding that he would be given a very warm welcome on arrival in Islamabad. "Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy excellent relations and these relations will continue strengthening in the years to come," he added.