Pakistan Reiterates: Comprehensive Policy to Fight Terrorism
By Fatima Raza 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Thursday said it has been pursuing a comprehensive policy against terrorism which combines political, socio-economic and military elements.

Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq in his weekly briefing said, “The government believes that military action alone will not be effective in permanently ending the menace of terrorism.”

He said political engagement is an essential part of the policy but it is possible only with those who renounce militancy and violence; do not allow the use of Pakistan’s territory against any other country; and do not help foreign terrorist elements to find hideouts in the country.

The Spokesman said, “The security requirements will not be abandoned or ignored under the policy.”

“Negotiations with tribal leaders and notables are aimed at supporting military efforts with political ones,” he added.

Replying to a question about arrested Pakistanis on charges of terrorism in Spain, the spokesman said, the Spanish Police took into custody 12 Pakistanis on January 18, 2008 in Barcelona on the suspicion of planning terror attacks in Spain and other European countries.

He said authorities claimed to have recovered bomb-making material and timing devices from them.

The spokesman said apparently, the detainees belonged to the Tableeghi Jamaat and some of them had been resident in the country for many years. Three were reported to be illegal migrants, he added.

He said nine individuals were produced in the Madrid Anti-terrorist Court for hearing on January 23 while others were released for insufficient evidence and the next date of hearing is yet to be fixed.

The Spokesman said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan’s Mission in Spain remained alive to the situation. He said the detainees, who are in three different jails, were met by Pakistan’s consular officials.

He said the embassy also requested the host authorities to allow the families of the detainees to establish contact with them through the embassy in Madrid or the Consulate General in Barcelona.

He said the relatives and lawyers of the detainees have since been permitted to contact them and the detainees are also allowed to make telephone calls to their families.

About the death of a Pakistani Mohammad Akram in Indian custody, the spokesman said, he was under trial Pakistani prisoner in India. He was held at Central Jail Amritsar and died in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital on April 26.

The Spokesman said the information about his death was conveyed to the officials of Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi when they visited the Amritsar Jail for consular access to some other Pakistani prisoners.

He said Pakistan Mission has asked the Indian Ministry of External Affairs for details of the circumstances leading to the death of Mohammad Akram and has sought early repatriation of his dead body.

He said the Foreign Office is also in contact with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on the issue.

The spokesman said on March 31 this year, Pakistan and India had exchanged lists of prisoners in accordance with the recommendations of the first meeting of Pak-India Judicial Committee on prisoners held in New Delhi on February 26.

He said the Indian side had informed that 133 Pakistani civil prisoners and 14 fishermen were held in India and at that time Indian side had mentioned that further names will be communicated to Pakistan when they are received from various jail authorities.

Additional information from Indian side is still awaited, he added.

On the reports for giving land for Pakistan’s consulate in Mumbai, the spokesman said Pakistan still has not been able to acquire any property to open the Consulate there.

He said a team of officials from Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi will visit Mumbai shortly to look at certain properties available for rent or purchase adding that as soon as a suitable property is available Pakistan will open its consulate in Mumbai.

The spokesman said Pakistan’s request to the Indian government to allow the opening of its consulate in Jinnah House remains there. He said in the meantime, Pakistan has continued efforts to find another premise, in Mumbai, however these efforts have not succeeded as yet.

Replying to a question about Pakistan’s foreign policy to solve Kashmir issue, the spokesman said Pakistan is still committed for peaceful solution to the issue in accordance with UN resolutions through mutual consultation.

Answering a question about sending proposal to UN for probing assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the spokesman said, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still finalizing the modalities on the basis of resolution passed unanimously by the National Assembly in this regard.

Regarding construction of dams by India, the spokesman said Pakistan has been pursuing the policy of “energy security” and added that Indus Basin Treaty is very helpful in solving any such problem.

About Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project, the spokesman said, it is in final stage of implementation.●