Pakistan Parliament Privileged to Review Foreign Policy: FO
'Pakistan Times' Diplomatic Desk

ISLAMABAD: Spokesman of the Foreign Office Muhammad Sadiq Wednesday said the parliament has every right to reconsider or review Pakistan’s foreign policy as well as its stance on war on terror.

At the weekly briefing here, Muhammd Sadiq said the US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is meeting Prime Minister Yousaf Reza Gillani in the afternoon to sum up negotiations made during the visit.

“Their visit was prescheduled for March to allow the transition of power to be completed in the country,” he said.

He said, the Deputy Secretary of the state and his team have discussed and negotiated primarily three things in their meetings with Pakistani officials and politicians.

They are resumption of the composite dialogue with India, Future and Development of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones and, bilateral strategic relations and cooperation in the ongoing war against terror and in the bordering region with Afghanistan.

He said, the development of ROZs is not linked with the free movement of US officials in the region.

The foreign office has also announced the start of bus service between Pakistan and Iran. The inaugural bus would leave Quetta for Mashhad on 22nd of April. Initially eight buses a week, four from each side, will operate between the two countries.

He said US has announced to give 750 million dollars in aid separately for FATA.

Details

The visit of two high profile US diplomats to Pakistan at this important time was already scheduled and the meetings and programmes were already fixed, said the Foreign Office on Wednesday. Spokesman for Foreign Office Muhammad Sadiq in his weekly briefing said, “The visit in March of these envoys was on the cards for sometime.”

He said suggestions were made about timing of the visit because of the political transition in the country. However, the US Deputy Secretary of State undertook the visit because his meetings and programmes were already fixed.

The spokesman said Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher held meetings with President Pervez Musharraf, Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Chief of Army Staff, Foreign Secretary and were scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and a number of politicians.

He said bilateral relations, Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism and cooperation between the two countries in different fields were discussed during the meetings.

The spokesman said in the meeting with the Foreign Secretary, views were exchanged about Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue.

He said two rounds of the strategic dialogue had taken place since 2006 and the next round of talks will be held in June this year in Washington as the US side was interested in early holding of the third round.

Giving further details of the meeting with Foreign Secretary, the spokesman said the two sides also discussed regional issues, including status of composite dialogue and peace process with India and Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan.

Various aspects of bilateral relations especially Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and economic and defence cooperation were also discussed, he added.

Replying to a question, the spokesman said there is no link between ROZs and giving free movement to American forces in FATA.

The spokesman said Pakistan has a clear policy that all military actions on Pakistan’s territory will be taken by its armed forces while the military actions on the Afghan side of the border are the responsibility of ISAF, NATO and Afghan forces.

He said the main aim of the ROZs was alleviation of poverty through economic activities in the FATA and other economically deprived areas of NWFP and Baluchistan.

The products from ROZs will have tariff free access to the US market and the legislation for this purposes is being worked out, he added.

He said the US has committed $750 million for the development of FATA over next five years.

Replying to a question about any change in the foreign policy of the government, the spokesman said, “It is the prerogative of the government and the parliament to reframe the foreign policy.”

Replying to a question about Indian Prime Minister’s message to new Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and willingness to continue the peace process, the spokesman said Pakistan has already noted the message and working on it.

He said dates for next round of talks between Pakistan and India are being finalised.

Answering a question about increase in the number of asylum seekers from Pakistan in the world, the spokesman said they are economic migrants.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Wednesday said it has not yet received any request or communication from America to appoint new defence representative here.

Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq while commenting on the news reports about posting of Maj. Gen. Jay W. Hood as the Chief Office of the Defence Representative at the US embassy in Islamabad, said that Pakistan has not received any request or communication in this regard. He said the Foreign Office is however looking into the matter.●