US to initiate criminal action against defence attaché: Pakistan assured

Foreign Office Thursday said that the US has assured the government of Pakistan that it will initiate a criminal and administrative action against the American Embassy's defence and air attaché who was allowed to leave the country after killing a citizen in a traffic accident.
"Diplomats have diplomatic immunity while serving in the country of their accreditation. In this context, Colonel Joseph was allowed to leave the country based on this diplomatic immunity. The US has assured us that it will initiate criminal/administrative action against Colonel Joseph in the US courts," Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal told his weekly media briefing.
He also expressed his inability to confirm if there was any Diyat (blood money) paid to the victim family before allowing Colonel Joseph to leave the country on Monday last.
About the US travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats, he said that the US State Department has imposed travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in Washington starting from May 11, 2018.
The diplomatic staff and their families will now have to seek prior permission for travelling outside the radius of 25 miles, approx 40 kilometers, he said.
As a matter of reciprocity, he said that the US diplomats in Pakistan have also been asked to seek prior permission for movement exceeding 25 miles limit. "We hope that the matter can be resolved through dialogue," he added.
About the facilities that were the US diplomats enjoying in Pakistan prior to the new travel sanctions such as installation of radio communication for surveillance and safe houses, he said that there were some concessions given to the US diplomats by earlier governments. However, he said that details of these concessions were never made public. "These are not being given anymore," he added.
About the Israeli forces' brutal use of force against Palestinians, he said that Pakistan calls on the United Nations and the international community to investigate and bring to end the use of force, which has resulted in casualties of innocent Palestinian civilians, including women, children and the elderly.
"Pakistan also renews its call for establishment of a viable, independent and contiguous state of Palestine, on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, the pre-1967 borders, and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital," he said.
"Pakistan strongly condemns Gaza massacre perpetrated by Israel defence forces against the unarmed Palestinian civilians in which 60 people lost their lives and 2,700 others were injured," he said. He said that the protesters were peacefully agitating against the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem.
He further said that Turkey has called for an emergency meeting of the OIC after the Israeli forces' killing spree in Gaza, adding that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will attend the meeting today (Friday).
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua has already reached Turkey for senior officials meeting of the OIC.
"Pakistan welcomes the initiative of Turkey to convene an extraordinary summit in Istanbul to take cognizance of the use of force by the Israeli defence forces against protesting civilians," he said, adding that Pakistan believes that this summit will accord opportunity to the OIC to discuss the grave situation and come up with a collective response.
The OIC represents 57 member states and 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, he said, adding, "We are confident that message from the OIC platform will show resolve of the Muslim countries on rejecting Israel's policies on the treatment of Palestinians."
On the Iranian nuclear deal, he said that Pakistan has continued to support Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "We hope that the remaining parties to the agreement would continue their commitment to it. We will continue to engage with Iran as a neighbor to strengthen our political and economic relations," he said.
About the US sanctions on Iran, he said that "as a matter of principle we are against unilateral sanctions."
To another question regarding a notice issued by an anti-terrorism court to submit reply regarding summoning 27 witnesses in Mumbai trial case, the spokesperson confirmed that Foreign Office has received the notice. "It is the subject of Ministry of Interior and the court has sought their comments before further proceeding in the matter," he added.
Asked to comment on former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's controversial statement regarding Mumbai attacks, he said: "It is our internal matter. However, the Indian propaganda against Pakistan, especially during their elections and the hyper-drive they get themselves into, is an established pattern and should be treated as such."
About India's move to induct its first ICBM Agni-V into the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), he said that Pakistan is not oblivious to the rapid arms buildup and induction of destabilizing weapon systems in its neighborhood.
"While committed to a policy of restraint and avoidance of arms race in South Asia, Pakistan will take necessary steps for safeguarding its vital national interests," he asserted. Developments such as the induction of ICBMs, with extra-regional targeting capabilities, should be a matter of concern to the international community at large, he added.
On the 4th round of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), he said that Pakistan and Afghanistan during the fourth round of discussions in Islamabad on May 14, 2018 finalized the APAPPS.
The APAPPS provides a framework to strengthen mutual trust and deepen interaction in all spheres of bilateral engagement and also provides a mechanism for finding solutions to areas of mutual concern, he said, adding that APAPPS would contribute towards the common objectives of eliminating terrorism and help achieving peace, stability, prosperity and development of the peoples of the two countries. Five working groups have been operationalised for meaningful engagement, namely (i) Politico-Diplomatic Working Group, (ii) Economic Working Group, (iii) Refugee Working Group, (iv) Military to Military Coordination, and (v) Intelligence Cooperation.