Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office dispelled the impression that Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) has failed to settle Afghan issue.

“QCG is still alive and welcomes all efforts aimed to bring peace in Afghanistan and it is aimed to facilitate it”, these views were expressed by Nafees Zakaria, Foreign Office Spokesperson during weekly briefing to media here.

Pakistan firmly supports Afghan led peace negotiations with various Afghan groups, including different Taliban factions, Zakaria said, adding that in the last 15 years it is proved that use of force is no solution of any problem.

While responding to a question regarding the extension of Afghan refugees stay in Pakistan, he said that currently dateline of Afghan refugees’ voluntary repatriation is 30th June, for the extension of their in Pakistan got request from Afghanistan, which is still under consideration.

Pakistan applied for the membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group on solid gourds, Zakaria maintained and said Pakistan has well established security and safeguard for nuclear over decades while for the future of energy and economic development, Pakistan wants fair treatment from international community on it.

Zakaria said that after arrest of Indian spy, Kulbhushan Yadav Pakistan’s international position vindicated that foreign forces hand in disturbance in Balochistan and Karachi. Pakistan briefed international community bilaterally and on international forums and shared with them information, he opined.

He said that this case is still under investigation and if any new information comes in, will be shared with international community.

Regarding the recent Indian Prime Minister’s statement, the spokesman said that Pakistan is most affected country from the phenomenon of terrorism more impacted on Pakistan in world in comparison of other countries on earth. Pakistan’s economy lost more than 100 billion dollars and more than 60,000 people lost their precious lives.

He said Pakistan is ready for talks with India on all issues including Jammu Kashmir and terrorism. He said that Indian PM Modi send flowers and best wishes to PM on his heart surgery.

He said water is part of comprehensive dialogue between Pakistan and India and if Ministry of Climate Change highlighted issue of glacier’s melting on this issue both countries can talk it.

Responding to another question, he said that American Ambassador’s meeting with Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs was routine affairs. He said in different statements US State Department and White House spokesperson’s said that Pakistan is important country for US and have broad based and long standing relations.

On registration of FIR against of recent drone strike in which Mulla Akhtar Mansour was killed, the spokesman said that under Pakistani constitution every citizen have right to lodge FIR and any complain against grievances. Pakistan’s judiciary is also independent to take its own legal course. On Afghan Consulate closure, he said that there are special routes for diplomats travelling in Peshawar and Afghan Consulate official violated the route. He was travelling on other route and security officials searched him.

On Pakistan’s Charge’d’ Affairs summoning in Kabul, he said that not aware from the development.

He said that CPEC is important game changer and an important economic and development project for Pakistan. Due to this some countries turned adverse to this project creating new groups against it.