Pakistan Thursday expressed concern over recent developments in the Persian Gulf and asked the United States and Iran to show restraint as a miscalculated move can transmute into a large-scale conflict.
Speaking at his weekly media briefing, Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal said that recent developments in the Persian Gulf region are 'disturbing,' adding that the US decision to deploy aircraft carrier and bombers has added to the tension and the existing precarious security situation in the Middle East. "We expect all sides to show restraint as a miscalculated move can transmute into a large-scale conflict," the spokesperson said, adding that Pakistan desires that all issues should be settled through peaceful dialogue and engagement by all sides as 'war is not an option.'
The Foreign Office's comments came after several days of mounting tension between Washington and Tehran, with the US sending additional troops and equipment to the region.
To a question whether there have been recent contacts between Islamabad and Tehran in the wake of the US-Iran tension, he said: "There has been no such contact so far, to the best of my knowledge."
About deportation of Pakistani nationals from the US, he said that it has been part of the bilateral agenda between the two countries for quite some time. He said that Pakistan's position has been consistent and clear that only those individuals can be deported to Pakistan who exhausted all legal remedies to stay in the US and have also been duly verified by the government of Pakistan as Pakistani nationals.
He said that around 50 Pakistani arrived in Islamabad through a chartered flight on Wednesday last. Responding to another query, he said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to participate in the SCO Heads of State meeting being held on June 13-14, 2019, Bishkek.
He said that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will participate in the SCO meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from 21-22 May 2019. The Foreign Ministers Meeting is taking place in pursuance of a statutory provision of SCO that requires the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs to be convened one month prior to the meeting of the Council of Heads of State. The Council of Foreign Ministers will prepare for the summit in Bishkek on 13-14 June, 2019.
He said, "The foreign minister's participation in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting will highlight Pakistan's interest in regional peace, stability and development and will give us an opportunity to project our perspective on foreign policy issues."
When asked whether Pakistan is ready to engage with India on the menace of terrorism in the region following Daesh announcement of the so-called Wilayat-e-Pakistan and Wilaya-e-Hind, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan is ready and fully equipped to defend itself against all forms of threat.
In line with Pakistan's policy of constructive engagement, he pointed out that Prime Minister Khan wrote to Prime Minister Modi on September 14, 2018 in which he reiterated the country's principled position of resolving all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, through peaceful dialogue.
Pakistan is also ready to discuss terrorism which is also a primary concern for Pakistan, he said. However, he referred to the Indian state sponsored terrorism, saying that Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, a serving Indian naval officer, who had been arrested in Pakistan, has confessed to his involvement in espionage, terrorism, and subversive activities against Pakistan.
Responding to another query, he said that Foreign Office is actively pursuing the Samjhauta Express bombing case as it holds great significance for Pakistan because more than 42 Pakistanis were martyred in the attack.
Swami Aseemanand, the mastermind who confessed to this heinous act of terrorism before a magistrate, was recently acquitted in the case. "Such a decision casts aspersions on the credibility of the Indian judicial system," he added.
He said that Pakistan has been regularly raising this issue with India, especially since 2014 when systemic efforts were initiated in India to exonerate the accused. "We have continued to raise it over the years, especially after the acquittal to which India has no reply. Presently, we are considering different options to take up this case with the relevant international forums," he added.
Asked if there was any development to remove the ban of the airspace imposed by Pakistan and India against each other in the wake of February 26 and 27 incidents, he said that 'there is no change so far.'
Responding to a question about the Chinese alleged involvement in various crimes on the pretext of marriages with Pakistani girls, he said that Ministry of Interior and Chinese Embassy are jointly working towards streamlining the procedures for marriages involving Chinese and Pakistani nationals.
He said that both the governments of Pakistan and China have launched actions in their respective jurisdictions and information is being shared about illegal and fake marriage bureaus and personnel involved, adding actions are already underway.
He said that China has taken action against illegal marriage bureaus and government of Pakistan has also launched similar actions to protect Pakistani nationals from such criminal agents and gangs.
Any person, if found involved in such criminal activities, will be effectively dealt with under the law, he said. However, he said that it is confirmed that there are no reports regarding trafficking of women for organ harvesting. At the same time, he stated that the FIA has been directed to further investigate the cases and present its comprehensive report on the matter.
Dr Faisal also stated that on the order of the President of the UAE to pardon 3,005 prisoners, serving sentences in different jails of the UAE under various categories, the UAE has decided to release 572 Pakistani prisoners. In order to expedite their release and deportation to Pakistan, he said that Pakistan's mission is constantly in touch with the local authorities and is extending all necessary assistance, including issuance of passports and air tickets, where required.
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