Not a good idea…I think.
Pakistan backs Iran’s nuclear bid
ISLAMABAD: The year 2011 has been a tumultuous one for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, caught as it was in the stormy waters of Pak-US relations that saw one foreign minister walking out of the government as well as the Pakistan Peoples Party, to be replaced by a new one. Yet the Ministry remains steadfast in its resolve to continue to pursue a foreign policy based on national interests, sovereignty and dignity.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi became the second foreign minister in history after the late Agha Shahi to walk out of his FO job. The United States was the common denominator in both cases.
2011 saw Pak-US relations coming crashing down, beginning with the Raymond Davis episode early this year and ending with the Salala aerial attack at the end of the year. Will 2012 be any different?
“It is necessary to rewrite our bilateral terms of engagement as this will be good for both countries since policies based on realistic and shared objectives would be far more tenable than a relationship facing frequent strains because of opaqueness and unilateral actions,î the spokesman at the Foreign Office told the weekly media briefing while summing up the events of the year. ìWe want our relations with the US to be based on mutual respect, trust and interest. Yes, bilateral relations saw many ‘ups and downs’ but Pakistan is trying to put the relationship back on track and make it transparent and in sync with our aspirations.î
Looking back, Pakistan felt it had reason to be satisfied that its foreign policy continued to be steered by security and development. “We vigorously pursued these objectives concomitantly on bilateral, regional and international planes,” said the spokesman.
Pakistan says its relations with China attained newer heights where the two countries signed a $1.6 billion Currency Swap Agreement, renewed the Five-Year Economic and Trade Cooperation Plan involving projects worth $14 billion and signed four agreements worth US$809 million for infrastructure and energy projects. “China will continue to be a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy for aeons to come. We take great pride in this unique and time-tested relationship,” the spokesman remarked.
2011 saw rhetoric against India being dialed down to a great extent with Pakistan hoping that the dialogue process was uninterrupted and result-oriented, leading to resolution of all issues, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “It is essential to keep the Thimphu spirit alive,”, said the spokesman.
When asked to comment on conditions of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman said that Pakistan reiterates its position that this dispute should be resolved according to relevant UN resolutions. “Meanwhile, it is important that the overall situation improves for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We support their legitimate aspirations and there is a debate going on in India as well to this effect. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are against the Public Safety Act, the Disturbed Area Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. One hopes that these black laws will be revoked in order to improve the overall situation,î added the spokesman.
However the spokesman said Pakistan was aware of the two nuclear submarines that India was acquiring. “We are looking at these developments very closely. Rest assured, there will be no compromise in terms of maintaining the credibility of our deterrence,” said the spokesman.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s embassy in Indonesia is in touch with local authorities in Surabaya and Bali to deal with the deceased Pakistanis. “The Chief of Hazara tribe, Sardar Saadat, would be arriving in Jakarta tomorrow morning. 103 dead bodies have been recovered, mostly decomposed. It is therefore very difficult to establish their identity. Our embassy is working over time to facilitate the identification of the bodies through DNA etc. So far, not a single dead body has been identified as being of Pakistan national. The process of identification may take 2 to 3 weeks. Once identification is established we would start transferring bodies to Pakistan. Our Embassy was in touch with seven survivors. 5 of them are not willing to return to Pakistan. The other two are willing to come back to Pakistan, and the Embassy is in the process of making necessary arrangements,” said the spokesman.
APP adds: Refuting the impression that Pakistan and United States are not on talking terms, the FO spokesman said, “We are on speaking terms with US and trying to put our relations back on track.”
Giving an overview of Pakistan’s foreign policy during 2011, the spokesman said Pakistan had adopted a comprehensive foreign policy that enhanced its image among the international community. He said Pakistan was elected a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, which indicated its importance in the world.
PPI adds: To a question about the Iranian nuclear issue, he said Pakistan always supported Iranís right to peaceful use of nuclear technology. Answering a question, he said Pakistan wanted to complete the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline as quickly as possible.
He said Pakistan’s relations with EU countries and G-8 countries had also moved forward. He said a five-year Pakistan-EU engagement plan has been finalised and the enhanced Pak-US strategic dialogue was launched during the visit of British Prime Minister to Pakistan.
The spokesman said Pakistanís relations with Russia were fast improving and President Asif Ali Zardari had paid official visit to Russia and talks with Russian leadership covered new plans of bilateral cooperation.
Online adds: To a question regarding the violation of Iranís air space by the US and the formerís reaction as well as Pakistan’s policy in this connection, he said that Pakistan believed in a peaceful solution of the nuclear issue of Iran.
On Pakistanís stance regarding inquiry report pertaining to the NATO attack against Salala, the spokesperson said that Pakistan was assessing the report and would make public its view after fully analysing it.
