ISLAMABAD – The Foreign Office stated on Thursday modalities are still being discussed between Islamabad and Beijing for an agreement about the handing over of deep-sea Gwadar Port to a Chinese firm, asserting that the concerns raised by India over the bilateral arrangement were unwarranted.
Answering a question during the weekly briefing here, FO spokesperson Muazzam Khan said, “We are still working out the modalities of this arrangement. We think that this is not something that any other country should have any reason to be concerned about.”
“We have seen some reports in the media which are rather over enthusiastic about this arrangement,” he added.
To another query about a conference of religious scholars from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the spokesperson said both the countries had principally agreed to hold the conference in Kabul on March 10. He was of the view that the objective of the summit was to move forward with the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
About the recent nuclear tests by North Korea, the spokesperson said Pakistan recognised the fact that every country had got the right to take steps for its national security; also recognised the fact that there were international obligations and North Korean nuclear tests were contrary to these world obligations.
Muazzam Khan, to another query, said Pakistan released 28 Taliban and was making sincere efforts to resolve the Afghan problem. Pakistan, he added, supported the establishment of Taliban’s office in Doha, Qatar.
The spokesman admitted there were still some issues to be resolved by Pakistan and Afghanistan to sign the strategic partnership agreement, and hoped these issues would soon be resolved for the mutual benefits of the two countries.
About the Kashmir issue, Khan said Pakistan had not made any policy changes with regard to the disputed territory. “Pakistan desires a solution to the Kashmir dispute in line with the wishes of aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the resolutions of the United Nations. Pakistan calls on India to release all release of freedom leaders and urges it to put a stop to its oppressive measures in Kashmir.” He said Pakistan wanted to normalise relations with India, observing that the only way to realise normal relations was through negotiations. He also said that in his opinion Afzal Guru was a martyr.