Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over the rise of extremistnationalism in India and its expansionist designs for the South Asiaregion, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at a weekly news briefingin Islamabad on Thursday said “We still await condemnation from the Indianleadership on the recent call for violence and assassination by a BJPleader from Bhagpat.”
In response to a question about the clashes between the security forces ofPakistan and Afghanistan in Chaman-Spin Boldak border region, the ForeignOffice spokesperson said “We have agreed to continue establishedinstitutional mechanism with Afghanistan to prevent such incidents.”
She further said Pakistan is in constant touch with the interim governmentof Afghanistan regarding the resurgence of terrorist incidents andcross-border violence, adding Pakistan had reiterated to the Afghanauthorities that the protection of civilians was the responsibility of bothsides.
“Pakistan remains committed to maintaining its fraternal relations withAfghanistan and ensuring that peace is maintained,” she said, mentioningthat Pakistan continued to engage with international players including theneighbouring Afghanistan to ensure that the terrorism emanating from Afghansoil could not affect it.
She hoped that the Afghan authorities would work towards fulfilling thecommitments made to Pakistan to not allow their territory to be usedagainst its neighbour.
Asked if Pakistan was using China’s leverage to counter Tehreek-e-TalibanPakistan (TTP) in the backdrop of the country’s engagement withAfghanistan, Mumtaz Baloch said Pakistan and China were close strategicpartners and “We consult each other on all matters of interest includingcounter-terrorism and on the situation in Afghanistan.”
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To a question about the number of foreign visits by Foreign MinisterBilawal Bhutto after assuming office, she shared a list of the countries as— Saudi Arabia (twice), United Arab Emirates (twice), United States(thrice), China (twice), Switzerland, Iran, Uzbekistan (twice), Cambodia,Uzbekistan, Germany, Egypt, Indonesia and Singapore.
In response to the delay in disbursement of salaries to Pakistan’s missionsabroad, the spokesperson said the process had been restored that facedsuspension due to a “very complicated” issue pertaining to the Ministry ofFinance, the State Bank, and the international channels. “Soon all themissions will have their requisite funds,” she said.
Asked about the update on the status of Indian serving Navy CommanderKulbhushan Jadhav who is serving a death sentence in Pakistan, she said,“There is no change in the status.”
This week, the spokesperson said, Pakistan would host Deputy Prime Ministerof Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin, who will lead a high-level delegation forthe Pakistan-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Joint Commission (IJC) – animportant mechanism to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
