http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html


All eyes set on Shaukat-Bush meeting

Pakistan won’t endorse N-Iran: PM

Vows to raise Bajaur bombing in tripartite commission meeting;

calls for moving beyond CBMs to settle Kashmir issue

By Salim Bokhari

UNITED NATIONS: All eyes are set on meetings of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz with President George Bush and senior US administration officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the secretary finance.

This will be the first encounter of Shaukat with American leaders on their home ground. Earlier, he had been meeting most of them when they visited Pakistan, most recently after the devastating earthquake on October 8 last year.

The prime minister has described his discussion with the US leaders as "vital" in ensuring peace and harmony in South Asia in the wake of President Bush’s visit to India in February next. He told The News that his talks with US leadership would focus five main areas — improvement of Pakistani economy, including access to American market for its goods particularly textile products; the latest developments in the ongoing India-Pakistan composite dialogue; seeking civil nuclear cooperation between the two sides; Afghanistan and issue of Iran’s nuclear programme.

The prime minister has conveyed to US leadership in categorical terms that Islamabad was against nuclear proliferation and would not endorse Iran producing atomic weapons. However, Pakistan was not against peaceful use of nuclear energy and it was a state’s legal right. He also made it very clear that Pakistan was making serious efforts to fight all forms of terrorism at home and abroad. "Our efforts in this connection are second to none," he is believed to have told United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan when he met him at the UN headquarters Friday afternoon.

Addressing a press conference at the office of the Foreign Correspondents’ Association, the prime minister spoke about his forthcoming talks in Washington with President Bush. He said the two sides would have wide ranging discussions on a host of issues. He said Pakistan and the United States are together in war against international terrorism.

Asked to comment on Iranian nuclear issue, the premier said Pakistan was against the nuclear proliferation in any form. "We are against producing nuclear weapons by Iran," he said, adding however, every country has a right to use the nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and Iran has a right to do so.

The prime minister said both Pakistan and India were trying and working to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the longstanding Kashmir conflict. He said Pakistan believes Kashmir needs to be addressed in line with the aspirations of Kashmiri people for sustainable peace in South Asia. He said once the two sides achieve progress on the Kashmir issue, India and Pakistan would make progress in tandem on other issues, including bilateral trade.

Shaukat said the time has come that India-Pakistan talks should move from confidence building measures (CBMs) with a passion for peace for substantive dispute resolution. Replying to a question, he said he and the UN secretary general had wide ranging discussions including the assistance extended by the world body for earthquake victims, UN reforms, Pakistan-India relations, Iranian nuclear issue and Afghanistan.

On the recent irritant between Pakistan and the US, Shaukat said the Pakistan government condemned the incident of aerial bombing in Bajaur. He said it is being investigated whether other people or high value al-Qaeda targets were present there. He said there is a tripartite commission comprising the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan to monitor the situation in border areas and such matters are discussed in that forum.

The prime minister said Pakistan was totally committed to fighting all forms of terrorism. "Terrorism in no way provides a solution to problems, the world faces. Pakistan believes that terrorism has no place in a civilised society and Pakistan has been partner in the war against terror and will continue to do so," he added.

On the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, the prime minister said Pakistan was a fast growing economy and to meet its future energy needs it is looking at several alternative sources including importing it from Iran, Qatar and Turkmenistan and Pakistan would take any decision keeping in view its national interests.

Shaukat said the reform package proposed for the world body also came under discussion during his meeting with Kofi Annan. "Pakistan supports reforms in order to reinvigorate the world body to meet the future challenges," he said.

APP adds: "India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri people must show courage, leadership, magnanimity, flexibility and a passion for peace in order to find a credible and lasting solution to the question of Jammu and Kashmir. What we need is a passion for peace and that is what Pakistan is trying to achieve," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told a news conference at UN Headquarters after "comprehensive" talks with Kofi Annan, who hosted a luncheon for him.

It was first press conference of Shaukat Aziz with the UN corps of correspondents as prime minister and he handled questions with great deal of confidence and in a smooth manner. Some veteran UN journalists called his interaction with the press impressive.

Replying to a question, the prime minister stressed the need for opening of all five points along the Line of Control daily rather than weekly as is being done presently. "We will also like to encourage trade between the two parts of Kashmir," he said.

When asked what provisions there were in the current dialogue regarding the right of Kashmiri families illegally forced out of their homes in Srinagar by the Indian-backed authorities, the prime minister said that was not yet part of the dialogue but it would be taken up at the right time.

Talking to a delegation of Muslim community leaders led by Imam Faisal, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called for evolving an institutional mechanism to promote dialogue and interfaith harmony among people belonging to different faiths. He said Islam promotes peace, harmony and compassion and allows people to practice their faith freely. "Islam abhors terrorism in any form and believes in tolerance and understanding," he said.

The prime minister dispelled misperceptions about Islam and urged Muslims across the world to focus their energies in presenting the religion in its true form. "The Muslims should take the step and promote dialogue with people belonging to different faiths," he said, calling for the effective use of media in this regard.