The final draft containing implementation mechanism of new Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) has been referred to both the governments for final approval. Contents of the draft were approved in the recent Pak-Afghan foreign secretaries' dialogue in Kabul, foreign office said.
Pakistan and Afghanistan finalised the draft on implementation mechanism for the new APTTA at foreign secretaries' level dialogue in Kabul but both the governments would give the final nod, said foreign office spokesperson on Thursday. To keep the consultation process on and bilateral matters on track, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jaweed Lodin would to come on a 3-day visit to Pakistan on June5, 2011, spokesperson said. She said that Pakistan had been fighting terrorists in its own national interest. Any decision with regards to military operation in North Waziristan would be taken keeping the interest of the country in mind.
She said Pakistan wanted a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. Two-tier commission had been constituted to have peace and reconciliation in this region keeping the wishes of Afghanistan in mind. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani proposed to set up a Pak-Afghan joint commission during his last visit to Kabul on April 15, 2011. However, Afghanistan was yet to announce the membership of the commission, she said.
The trilateral commission has Afghanistan, Pakistan and United States as its members. Two meetings of high officials of the trilateral commission were held. The officials reached consensus that a core group should be set up to address the issues of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Foreign Office did not confirm the media reports that several security personnel were feared killed when about 300 Afghanistan-based militants stormed villages after ransacking a check-post at Shaltalo in Barawal Valley, Upper Dir. She said FO did not have authentic reports from the military so far.
Responding to another question regarding possible options to be floated by Pakistan to stop construction of Kishan Ganga Dam, she said Pakistan would try to resolve the water dispute by provoking certain clauses under the Indus Water Treaty. The other option was to settle the dispute at the international arbitration forums. However, she said ministry of water and power had more details on the subject.
She said that the US had not given Pakistan access to Mumbai attacks accused David Headly. "Pakistan has not been given access to Headly. Therefore, we can not determine what he is saying and what he is not saying", she said. She announced that the dialogue process with India would go on according to schedule and Pakistan was in the process of finalising dates for the foreign secretary level talks on peace and security, Jammu & Kashmir and friendly exchanges.
Replying to a question, she said that Pakistan desired resumption of dialogue with India in more constructive and useful manner to be result-oriented. Pakistan reiterated its commitment that it did not run its relationship with India through media.
Spokesperson admitted that there was no significant development on the Siachen dispute except exchange of papers in the recent defence secretaries' dialogue between India and Pakistan. To another question, she said that Pakistan could not take the matter of anti-terrorism with India to any other forum as both sides had agreed to discuss security issues at interior secretaries' level talks.
Responding to a question, she recalled in her recent visit to Pakistan, US Secretary of States, Hillery Clinton assured that Pakistan that Pak-US strategic dialogue would continue till finalisation of proposals and preparations for next dialogue.
Russian Embassy in Pakistan launched a strong protest with foreign office against the killing of a Russian individual by frontier constabulary (FC) at Aharotabad, Quetta. The spokesperson confirmed that one of them carried Russian passport. Foreign office had been in contact with Russian Embassy in Pakistan and sharing all up-dates regarding on-going investigation.
The spokesperson further said that President Asif Ali Zardari would participate in the 10th anniversary of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) which is scheduled to be held at Asta'na Kazakhstan on June 15. Pakistan would also attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Budapest on June 6-7, 2011, she added.