Pakistan expresses concern over Myanmar violence

Foreign Ministry spokesperson hopes authorities in Myanmar will take necessary steps to control the situation.


Our Correspondent July 26, 2012

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expressed concern on Thursday over the recent ethnic violence in Myanmar, where dozens of people - mostly Muslims – have died.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Moazzam Ali Khan, during the weekly news briefing, said that “we are concerned about the situation but there are reports that things have improved there.”

The spokesman hoped that the authorities in Myanmar would take necessary steps to control the situation.

Recent clashes in western Myanmar between Buddhist ethnic Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya have left dozens dead and tens of thousands homeless.

Last week, Amnesty International said hundreds of people, mostly men and boys, have been detained in sweeps of areas heavily populated by the Rohingya.

‘Terrorist sanctuaries’

Khan also told reporters that Pakistan has urged Afghanistan and the US-led international forces to take decisive action against ‘terrorist sanctuaries’ that are being used by militants to launch repeated cross border attacks on Pakistan.

“Islamabad had taken up the issue of cross border incursions with the Afghan government as well as Isaf and the Nato commander,” he said.

“We hope that some concrete steps will be taken by the Afghan government as well as the Isaf,” Khan added, referring to more than a dozen deadly cross-border assaults that killed over 100 people including civilians and soldiers in recent months.

Pakistan had earlier alleged that Mullah Fazlullah and other militants, who fled the army’s counter terrorism operations in Swat and Bajaur, have found refuge across the border in Afghanistan.

MoU on NATO supply

Commenting on the Nato supply deal, the spokesperson said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to regulate Nato supply to Afghanistan will be signed soon.

However, he did not provide further details saying that the new deal would be in line with the recommendations approved by the parliament in April this year.

COMMENTS (49)

Saleem Ahmed Khan | 11 years ago | Reply

Pakistan's moral position does not allows to raise voice for the muslim of Burma. What the state of Pakistan is doing with Balochis is shameful. Burma can counter our protest over extra judicial killings and kidnappings in Balochistan. We should make our own house in order before going to help others.

fatemeh | 11 years ago | Reply

the bigest problem is that we are not together,it s not important that violence happens in which country or situation but it sth is importan that we have to against all of them. please start to have useful reaction infront of all violenc,please!!!!

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