News Desk
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the Nuclear Suppliers Group to consider entry applications of Pakistan and India simultaneously and in an even handed manner keeping in view the region’s strategic stability.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria, addressing news briefing in Islamabad Thursday, said it has been our consistent position that the NSG membership for the non-NPT states must be dealt with in accordance with a single, uniform, non discriminatory and a fair criteria.
He said Pakistan has been making efforts to muster support of the NSG members for its own membership. He said the country has strong credentials to become membership of the NSG. Pakistan’s membership, in fact, is in the interest of the nuclear trading countries as it will further promote the non proliferation objectives.
When asked to comment on US Envoy Richard Olson’s remarks that Indian role in Afghanistan is overestimated in Pakistan, the Zakaria said our concerns on the matter are very much genuine and based on facts. He said the arrest of Kulbushan Yadav is a solid proof of Indian involvement in perpetrating terrorism in Pakistan. The spy, he said, has made confessions in this regard. He also reminded that the high ranking US officials in the past they have admitted that India is fanning instability in Pakistan.
Commenting on relations with India, the spokesperson said Pakistan wants unconditional talks with the neighboring country for the resolution of all the outstanding issues. He said Pakistan is deeply concerned over human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir and has raised this matter forcefully at several international forums. He said Kashmir dispute and the human rights violation in the held valley will figure in any future talks with New Delhi.
When queried about talks with the Afghan side on border management, the spokesperson said we have taken necessary steps to ensure smooth implementation of border management He said it is a key component to counter terrorism and stop infiltration of terrorists. He said we have engaged Afghan side on the matter and expressed the confidence this will result in improvement of situation on the border.
He said Pakistan is still hosting three million refugees despite its bearing on our economy. He said some of the refugee camps have become security risks as the terrorists are finding refuge in those camps. He said the Afghan government supported by the international community should create the pull factor for the return and reintegration of the refugees to their homeland.
To another question, the spokesperson said all the four members in the QCG are making efforts to bring the warring factions on the table of negotiations. He reiterated that a politically negotiated settlement through Afghan owned and afghan led process is the only viable option for bringing lasting peace in Afghanistan.
To a question about China Pakistan Economic Corridor project, the spokesperson said the mega development project will not only benefit Pakistan and China but the whole region. Therefore, nobody should have any concerns on it. He said the projects under the umbrella of CPEC are being launched as per the schedule.
