ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Tuesday rejecting any foreign pressure against Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, said it was in Pakistan's national interest to acquire energy from wherever it was available.
"We cannot afford to be selective," the Foreign Minister told a press conference at the Foreign Office, adding that no decision in this regard would be taken against the national interests.
She said the country was facing a real energy crisis and stressed the need to address its energy needs at the earliest.
Khar said the relations with the United States, NATO and ISAF would be promoted on the basis of mutual self-respect and in line with the policy devised by Pakistan's parliament.
She said the parliamentary committee on foreign policy would finalize the recommendations by the second week of this month.
"We want to add the element of credibility with the United States," she said.
To a question about not allowing the US senior officials to visit Pakistan, she said the refusal was till the time when a clear- cut policy viz-a-viz the United States was finalized.
Khar said Pakistan wanted to maintain friendly relations with all its neighbours including India and added that there was enthusiasm from both the sides to improve ties.
She said the governments of the two neighbouring countries had been working together to build a level of trust for the mutual benefit of two nations.
On Afghanistan, Khar said Pakistan supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution to the problem.
She said Pakistan wanted a Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf States.
On the question of MFN status to India and Kashmir issue, the Foreign Minister explained that Pakistan has not compromised on its principled stand on Kashmir and it will remain committed to the resolution of this important issue through dialogue process.
Khar said from 1947 to 1965 Pakistan and India had normal trade relations and now the present government has decided to again normalize Pak-India trade relations. She said, "We can afford more wars with India as we could not get any thing from the previous wars."
She however said the MFN status to India is already with 180 other countries and its basically necessary to normalize the trade activities between the two countries.
She said Ministry of Commerce discussed with all stakeholers before sending its recommendations on MFN status to India and the cabinet unanimously approved it.
"We have been able to build a degree of trust with India that is a prerequisite to solve all the disputes through negotiations," she said.
On the question of threats from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to impose sanctions on Pakistan, if it will continue on the gas project with India, the Foreign Minister said, "We will cross the bridge when it will come."
She was however hoped that international community will look into the matter and find a way to resolve the issue through peaceful negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue and sanctions on Pakistan will not be imposed.
On the delay in the joint session of the parliament to decide the future engagements with NATO/ISAF and United States, the Foreign Minister said it was due to the elections on 50 percent seats of Senate of Pakistan.
She hoped that after the completion of the Senate elections, the joint session will be held in middle of this month.
About the continuation of air supply to NATO from Pakistan, Khar said the Prime Minister has already clarified this issue that when the NATO supply was closed there was no mentioning of closing air supply routes.
She however said the routine trade under Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement was also continued to ensure the supply of edible goods to the Afghan people. She said unilaterally sanctioned could not be implemented.
Answering a question about her visit to Moscow, she said, Russia is interested to invest in different projects including TAPI, KASA 1000.
On the question of issue of Dr Shakeel and American pressure on Pakistan to release him, the Foreign Minister said all issues in this regard will be dealt within Pakistan's own laws.
Earlier, she highlighted the achievements of foreign office to promote bilateral relations with all the countries purely on the basis of mutual respect, mutual honour and mutual benefit.
She also mentioned about her recent visits to UAE, Moscow and UK and her interaction with the international community to promote Pakistan's relations with these countries.
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