ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Faisal has clarifiedthat the Pakistan Army troops being sent to Saudi Arabia are not the partof the Islamic Military Alliance Forces.
Pakistan Army troops are being sent to Saudi Arabia for training andadvisory purpose under the bilateral agreement with the Saudi government.
He further said that Pakistan has said that despite long term partnership,it is the United States which is drifting away from Pakistan.
At his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday, Foreign OfficeSpokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal expressed his surprise over the recent USintelligence reports that Pakistan is drifting away from Washington.
The spokesperson pointed out that the US took several unilateral steps inrecent months which have actually impacted the relationship. It is for theUS to rebuild the trust.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan has categorically conveyed to the USthat this relationship can move forward in an environment of mutual trustand respect.
Responding to a question, Dr Muhammad Faisal said Pakistan has seriousconcerns over the motion moved by the US and the UK at the Financial ActionTask Force to put the country on the grey list.
He pointed out that most of the concerns by the US regarding deficienciesin anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism hadalready been addressed in 2015 when Pakistan got an exit from the grey list.
The spokesperson said the exit from the grey list was acknowledgment of thecountry’s robust mechanism against money laundering and terrorism which isin line with the international standards.
When asked about accusations made by the Indian Army Chief that Pakistanand China are behind the influx of people from Bangladesh to India’snortheast, the spokesperson termed them a figment of the Indian ArmyChief’s imagination. He said this is being done to create hysteria againstPakistan.
The spokesperson said tension on the Line of control is a cause of concernfor us and the international community.
Responding to a question, Dr Muhammad Faisal said the most viable solutionto the Afghan conflict is through a politically negotiated settlementbetween the Afghan government and the warring factions.
To another question, the spokesperson clarified that Pakistan has not senttroops to Saudi Arabia to become part of Islamic military alliance.