No decision yet on Pakistani troops to Lebanon: spokesperson
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Aug 21, IRNA
Pakistan-Troops
Pakistan said on Monday that no decision has been taken about contributing troops or otherwise for peacekeeping in Lebanon.
Responding to questions at the weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan, as principle, sends troops to any country in accordance to the UN mandate or when all parties agreed.
Pakistan will keep in mind all ground realities in this case.
About relations with Israel, she said progress towards Pakistan establishing diplomatic relations with that state would depend on progress in the peace process, just solution of the Middle-East question and establishment of a viable Palestinian state.
The spokesperson told a questioner that as per understanding, experts from Pakistan and India were to meet on August 23 and 24 to discuss modalities for joint survey to determine maritime boundaries.
However, there is no intimation from Indian side about the arrival of their delegation so far.
Tasnim Aslam confirmed that the Indian Government has restricted movement of Pakistani diplomats beyond New Delhi municipal limits.
There was no such restriction on Indian diplomats in Islamabad, who travel to the cities of Murree and Rawalpindi.
She said consultations were underway to improve and update the regime that the two countries already have on the movement of diplomats.
The spokesperson told a questioner that Pakistan has been cooperating with the international community on the war against terror on the basis of evidence and information sharing.
Pakistan will be willing to cooperate with India as well but it cannot just accept baseless allegations.
To another question, Tasnim Aslam said negotiations are underway with a delegation of NATO for signing of an agreement for provision of facilities similar to those provided by Pakistan to ISAF in Afghanistan.
She said such cooperation would mainly be with regard to provision of logistic support.
She hoped that a formal agreement is likely to be inked soon.
Responding to a question the spokesperson said Pakistan has never alleged that Afghanistan is sheltering al-Qaeda.
But she said information suggests that several al-Qaeda operatives are hiding in Afghanistan's border areas, who might be involved in the alleged plan to bomb British planes.
A strong and prosperous Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan.
She said that Pakistan's desire to have closer ties with Central Asian states is linked to stability in Afghanistan.
She said Pakistan is in favor of increased contacts across the Line of Control.
In fact Pakistan which first proposed that there should be more cross-LoC linkages and Kashmiris should be able to meet and trade with each other.
She, however, said at the moment Pakistan wants the focus on implementation of already concluded agreements.
She pointed out that Kashmiris have been complaining of the complicated procedure for crossing because of which they are unable to avail of the facility.
Pakistan, she said, wants more contacts and easy travel conditions.
2020/235/2322/1412
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