Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The recent visit of US State Department South and Central Asia Acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells to Pakistan was part of the series of talks with United States regarding terror eradication and bilateral ties, said Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal.

During a weekly briefing session Thursday, the spokesperson said talks were also under way with officials over travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in the US, which will come into effect from May 1.

Dr Faisal was referring to the decision made by the administration of US President Donald Trump that Pakistani diplomat cannot move freely in the US without seeking permission from relevant authorities in the State Department.

The reports were confirmed by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon, who said this restriction was placed in response to the same conditions Islamabad has imposed on US diplomats in Pakistan. He added this was nothing new and that such steps were a routine matter.

Dr Faisal said they had discussed the matter of US Defence and Air Attache Colonel Joseph Emanuel, after a vehicle he was driving hit and killed a young man in Islamabad.

Moreover, the spokesman said Pakistan had no frustration regarding Indian missile activities but international community must take notice of such aggressive behaviour.

Pakistan possesses full capacity to answer Indian actions in same manners, Dr Muhammad Faisal said.

Dr Faisal said that Indian officials including its Prime Minister keep giving provocative statements against Pakistan even in other countries.

“Pakistan has always maintained a dignified attitude and has retaliated only when it was necessary”, he added.

He said that political vendetta is at its peak against Kashmiri leaders. “Even women leaders and activists are being arrested on the ground that they protested along with the students against the rape and murder of a Muslim minor girl at Kathua”, he added.

The foreign office spokesperson said, Indian troops violated the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control yet again, when their unprovoked firing claimed the lives of two citizens.

Dr Faisal said India had violated the ceasefire agreement along with LoC and Working Boundary over 1,000 times so far this year.

He also spoke about Pakistan’s role in restoring peace in the region, saying the country was playing its role to combat terrorism.

He added, “India is making a complete mockery of its justice system, especially while dealing with Saffron terrorism and terrorist acts committed under the garb of Hindutva and Hindu fundamentalism.”

The FO spokesperson also expressed concerns over the acquittals of suspects in 2007’s Mecca Masjid blast by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on April 16. “The gradual acquittal of accused of Samjhota terrorist attack, including the mastermind Swami Aseemanand, makes a travesty of the Indian judicial system,” he said.

About the issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Dr Faisal said there was no military solution to it. He added same was agreed upon between leaders of both the country during Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s recent visit to Kabul.

The spokesperson also said Pakistan condemned the recent suicide attacks that occurred in Afghanistan and claimed many lives.

Published in Daily Times, April 27^th s2018.