ISLAMABAD – Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson has welcomed thestatement of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Kashmir issue.*
Muhammad Faisal responding to a question during his weekly news briefing inIslamabad on Thursday said that the statement shows the concern of theinternational community on the long standing dispute between India andPakistan.
He said that Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Muhammad Asif some daysback had also telephoned his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif todiscuss the situation in Kashmir.
The spokesperson said recentlyIran link> hashanded over 66 Pakistani nationals to authorities at Pakistan-Iran Taftanborder crossing in south western Balochistan province.
He added that normally these people are stopped from enteringIranlink> illegally but still some manage tocross over into Iranian territory.
The official said ‘Iranian authorities cooperate with us and hand overthese people to Pakistan’ adding that efforts are underway to stop thesepeople from entering into Iran link> illegally.
In his opening remarks the spokesperson said that last Sunday, Pakistanitroops deployed along Pak-Afghan border at Kurram Agency came under-firefrom the Afghan side, while they were on routine patrolling and fencingactivity on the border.
“The Afghan border security forces, assisted by Afghan tribesmen, fired onour troops, resulting in martyrdom of five soldiers. The Afghan borderforces and tribesmen also got hold of the bodies of our troops and detainedone soldier,” he said.
He added that as there were a large number of tribesmen on Afghan side, ourtroops exercised utmost restraint to avoid civilian causalities.
“Our side, via diplomatic and military channels immediately engaged theAfghan authorities to hold border flag meeting to help resolve thesituation. A border flag meeting was held between the commanders of the twoforces and situation was amicably defused,” said the official.
He said in their engagement, the two sides emphasized the need for furtherenhancing border coordination to avoid recurrence of such incidents in thefuture.’
Muhammad Faisal further said: ‘We are following the situation in Syria withgrave concern. We call on all sides to refrain from actions inconsistentwith the UN Charter. “At this time our thoughts are with the people ofSyria who have suffered as a result of ongoing turmoil in that country. Wehope that all parties will work to find an urgent solution to end thesufferings of the Syrian people.”