ALI HUSSAIN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Thursday that India is constructing new bunkers on the Working Boundary in violation of a bilateral agreement.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told a weekly press briefing that there is an agreement between Pakistan and India since 2010 that within 500 meters of the Working Boundary, no new constructions will take place.

“But what we have seen this morning and over the last many days is that, under this fire, the Indians have been trying to build new bunkers,” she said, adding that Pakistan would never permit this construction which is in violation of a bilateral agreement.

Referring to the Indian troops’ violations across the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, she said that Pakistan condemns this escalation by India.

“We give a measured response and we do it carefully because on the other side of the Line of Control and the Working Boundary there is Indian Occupied Kashmir and Kashmiris are our own brothers and sisters. We want no harm to them,” she added.

About the Indian reluctance to allow United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), she said that it is the responsibility of the United Nations to ensure that its peacekeepers and observers are effective. “Naturally, it is one of the subjects being discussed,” she added.

About reported Indian opposition regarding construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, she said the dam is one of the major energy projects that Pakistan intends to build and negotiations with the World Bank are under way.

To a question, the spokesperson rejected the impression that Pakistan is facing India like situation on its border along Iran, saying that with India, we have some fundamental disputes which need resolutions. “Our policy is that we should engage and resume dialogue on all those outstanding issues,” she added.

While with Iran, we have very strong relationship and our bonds are of culture, religion and civilization, she said, adding that we have a border with Iran which is long and not always manned. “There is a desire on both sides to facilitate trade through this border and facilitate movement of people,” she added.

She stated both sides are committed to finding a solution to the issues, to better monitor the movement and to better manage the border. She said that Iranian Foreign Secretary will be visiting Pakistan next week for bilateral consultations, which would reaffirm the commitment of both countries to resolve these minor irritants and strengthen this relationship.

On Afghanistan, she said that Pakistan’s position is very clear as it does not support one group or the other inside Afghanistan. “We have started with the new government of Afghanistan on a very positive note,” she said, adding we look at our relationship with Afghanistan through the prism of greater engagement, greater connectivity and more economic collaboration.

The spokesperson said soon Afghan President will visit Islamabad, as Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has extended a formal invitation. She termed the Adviser’s meeting with new Afghan leadership as very positive, saying that both the countries have a strong desire to transform their partnership into economic relations. She said there are many areas which can be tapped to further our ties.

“Pakistan stands ready to extend whatever assistance it can give to Afghanistan in this process because a stable, inclusive, peaceful, prosperous Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest,” she added.

On border management with Afghanistan, she said the Afghan leadership has assured that they are giving it very serious consideration and some meetings may take place to take that process forward.

To a question, she said that Prime Minister is likely to attend the SAARC Summit scheduled for November 26 and 27 in Nepal. She said that Nepalese Foreign Minister is here with a view to delivering the invitation. She said the summit will be preceded by a Council of Ministers meeting and the senior officials meeting.

The spokesperson further said that there is likelihood that Prime Minster will attend the APEC-Dialogue in China to which he has been invited.

About the recent visit of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, she said that Pakistan has in place a regular consultative process with the Russian Federation known as Strategic Dialogue, which reviews the bilateral relations across the board.

She said the dialogue also includes an exchange of views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. “Pakistan and the Russian Federation have convergence of views on many issues,” she said. In the Human Rights Council and in UN, we coordinate and cooperate on many issues, she added.

She said that the two countries are part of a likeminded group in Geneva. Bilaterally, there is a desire on both sides to strengthen our relationship, she said, adding that both the countries have many forums and some of them are likely to take place in the near future.

She said that the two countries also have a Joint Economic Commission and Pakistan is interested in greater Russian investment in the country. She pointed out that Russian Naval fleet was here and they made a port call. “These are new openings that are taking place. There is a desire on both sides to give an impetus to this relationship. It is a relationship that is on an upward trajectory,” she remarked.

About the Chinese president visit, she said Pakistan is keen to host the Chinese president as soon as the dates for his visit are finalized. She said that visits of the leaders are scheduled keeping in view the domestic and foreign commitments. We have to find dates that are convenient to both sides, she added.

To a question, the spokesperson said that she was aware of any formal invitation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the awarding ceremony of Nobel Peace Prize to Malala Yousafzai. “Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani and she has made us very proud by bringing Nobel Peace award. We appreciate her commitment to education,” she said.

Asked to comment on the threats from extremists to Malala, she said that Pakistan belongs to Pakistanis and not to any extremist or terrorist outfit. Pakistanis who are abroad can travel to Pakistan any time they like, she added.