By NNN-APP,
Multan (Pakistan) : Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan does not want to indulge in arms race in the region but is fully alive to its defence.
Talking to the newsmen at the local airport on Saturday, he said that we have confidence in our defence capabilities adding there exists nuclear balance in the region.
Foreign Minister said that country enjoys complete national cohesion and consensus.
To a question on US-India nuclear deal, he said that the two countries are sovereign and can have relations on the basis of mutual interests. On the other hand, Pakistan have a 60-year long relationship with the US and US secretary of state briefed us on her New Dehli visit and took us in confidence.
Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi welcomed the statement of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in the Lok Sabha as a positive development that declared dialogue as the only way forward. It matches Pakistan’s point of view and our federal cabinet also issued a statement in support of this gesture.
He said that he is expected to meet his Indian counterpart on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in September this year in New York.
When asked, FM said, Kashmir issue was a priority of the government and a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. It is one of the eight segments of the composite dialogue and the whole world recognize it as an issue to be resolved.
To another question regarding Indian involvement in Balochistan, he said that its a sensitive issue and diplomatic channels should be preferred to address it adding that issuing media statements on the matter will favour none of the two countries.
He said that dialogue should be preferred to resolve problems, to bring about socio-economic development in the two countries and to give employment opportunities to the people.
He said that talks between Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart at Sharm Al-Sheikh was a positive development and according to the joint statement foreign secretaries of the two countries can meet any time when needed.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi disclosed that World Bank has expressed willingness to prepare feasibility report of a hydel power facility in Tajikistan under a Casa-1000 project under which Pakistan will get 1000 megawatt electricity from Tajikistan during every summer when country faces energy shortfall.
He said that a 700 kilometre transmission line will be installed at a cost of US$850 million for the purpose.
He said that the four nation summit in Tajikistan and the KRF meeting in Phuket helped Pakistan move forward under the visionary ‘Look East’ policy to promote trade relations with Asian countries.
Foreign Minister said that KRF is a regional forum of ASEAN where Pakistan was able to convince the member countries to upgrade its role from sectorial partnership to full dialogue partnership.
He said that Asian countries possess enormous potential of growth and are getting prosper by each passing day adding that Pakistan gives importance to trade relations with them particularly South Asian nations.
He said that Pakistan was convincing the Asian countries for investment adding that our country can serve as hub for ASEAN countries for access to Central Asian Republics and other countries for trade.
Referring to Dushambe summit, Foreign Minister said that during the bilateral meeting with Tajikistan leaders, an agreement was reached to regularize consultations and strengthen cooperation in areas including energy, trade, controlling drug trafficking and security/terrorism related issues.
He said that Pakistan has also offered Tajikistan to provide training to their diplomats in our foreign services academy.
He said that a decision has also been taken to soften visa restrictions to facilitate genuine businessmen.
He said that Pakistani cement manufacturers enjoy an edge in Tajikistan market and can exploit the opportunity by exporting cement via Afghanistan. Pakistan’s consumer products can also find way into the Tajikistan and other markets in the region.
A decision has also been made to improve regional connectivity by establishing air, rail and road links for faster transportation.
He said that National Highway Authority Chairman has been asked to prepare feasibility study in consultation with authorities in Afghanistan and Tajikistan to establish a road link at a point from where Tajikistan was only fourteen kilometres away from Pakistan via Afghanistan.
He said that missing links in trans-country railway track should be linked up from Tajikistan to Afghanistan and from Torkham (Pakistan) to Afghanistan to usher an era of dynamic trade activities among the countries in the region.
An agreement was also reached to control drug trafficking, Mehmood Qureshi said adding that Narco-money was one of the source of financing to terrorism that needs to be plugged.
He said that trilateral engagement of Pakistan with Tajikistan and Afghanistan resulted in an understanding that stability in Tajikistan and Pakistan was linked to stability in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that during the Dushambe summit, President Asif Ali Zardari invited Russain President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev to visit Pakistan.
He said that the Russain president accepted the invitation and also invited President Zardari to visit Russia. He said that the engagement at the highest level with Russia will help improve Pak-Russia relations.
To a question, he said that Afghanistan was a complicated problem and needed a comprehensive solution involving a holistic approach. To another question, he added that capacity of Afghanistan’s civil institutions must be enhanced to ensure that no vacuum is left behind when Nato forces leave.
He said that Pakistan was ready to extend assistance to enhance capacity of civil institutions of Afghanistan.
To a question on the investigations by UN panel into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, Foreign Minister said that the high powered UN commission can summon anybody as part of inquiry.
He said the three-member UN commission has set up its sub-office in Islamabad and nominated experts who are in contact with the authorities in Pakistan.
He said that chairman of the UN panel has also appealed the people to convey information to the commission with regard to Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. He said that the UN commission will complete the inquiry process within six months period.