Pakistan has categorically stated that the ongoing operation againstillegal immigrants is not targeted against any particular nationality.
Responding to questions at her weekly news briefing in Islamabad onThursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the ongoingaction envisages repatriation of individuals who have either overstayedtheir visas or do not have the valid documents to stay.
She said Pakistan is all within parameters of its sovereign domestic lawsto take action in this context.
She clarified this operation has nothing to do with 1.4 million Afghanrefugees that Pakistan has been hosting since decades with exemplarygenerosity and hospitality despite its own constrained economic situation.
The spokesperson said Pakistan’s national policy on Afghan refugees remainsunchanged and their safe and honorable repatriation is a separate matter onwhich it continues to engage with Afghanistan to create conduciveenvironment for their safe return.
Refuting media reports that Pakistan has closed transit trade withAfghanistan, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pak-Afghan bilateral trade continuedbut Pakistan will not accept the misuse of existing trade facilities. Shesaid any measures taken recently or in future will be in accordance withthis understanding.
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To a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan has very clearly articulatedits concerns over the use of Afghan soil for terrorism. He said Islamabadwhile believing in diplomacy and dialogue continues engagement with Kabulto fight the threat.
To another question about a report published in international mediaregarding India’s anti-Pakistan propaganda, the spokesperson said there isirrefutable evidence of India’s involvement in terrorist activities insidePakistan but it continues to blame Pakistan for this on fictitious grounds.
She said as Pakistani team is in India for ICC cricket world cup, it isresponsibility of the host country to provide foolproof security andconducive environment to the team.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan has a clear stance that sports should notbe mingled with politics and the Pakistani team is in India, not for abilateral series but an international tournament.
