Pakistani crew of Morning Glory to return home soon: FO

Pakistan hopes US will refrain from using drone strikes in its territory.


Web Desk March 27, 2014
"If there is reluctance on Indian side to resolve Kashmir issue bilaterally, our common friends can help convince India to come to the negotiating table. It’s not an internal affair of India,” said foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani crew members of the oil tanker, Morning Glory, which was stopped by the US navy off Cyprus off the coast of Libya, have been released and they should be heading back to Pakistan soon, depending on the availability of flights, said foreign office spokesperson said on Thursday.

During the weekly briefing at the foreign office in Islamabad on Thursday, spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that the Pakistan Embassy in Libya was informed that the crew have been cleared by the Libyan authorities after an investigation and they would be heading home soon.

Libya had complained that some vessels, registered in the names of various countries, were taking Libyan oil illegally and apparently, that was the case with regard to Morning Glory as well, said FO spokesperson.

On March 19, 2014 the UN Security Council adopted a resolution under which illegal acquisition of Libyan oil has become an international crime, while the crew of Morning Glory were arrested on March 17, the foreign office urged Pakistanis to work only with authentic, well established companies so that they are not caught in a situation like this.

Nuclear Suppliers Group

Responding to a question regarding chances of Pakistan being included in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Aslam said Pakistan has a long standing engagement with the Nuclear Suppliers Group and have held meeting in Islamabad as well.

Pakistan sought access to nuclear technology to meet its energy requirements and for use in medical and agricultural fields. "We believe that selective approach undermines the credibility of all these arrangements."

“We are interested and we feel that we qualify for inclusion. Not only that we adhere to the criteria but also, at this summit, Pakistan’s credentials as a responsible nuclear state have been acknowledged. There are already voices that are suggesting that it is unrealistic to keep Pakistan outside the NSG. We hope that we will be able to convince the Nuclear Suppliers Group in this regard”, the spokesperson added.

No evidence of militants going to Syria from Pakistan

On a question whether US government has contacted Pakistan after a report in New York Times report alleged that al Qaeda militants have been travelling from Pakistan to Syria, the spokesperson said that “US has not shared this information with us."

"There have been no contacts and we have no information how al Qaeda could be traveling from Pakistan to Syria.”

US aid to Pakistan

On a question whether US has decided to cut the aid given to Pakistan, the foreign office spokesperson said that the US House Foreign Relations Committee had approved this but it is a long process.

"The House of Representatives has not done it yet. Therefore, it is pre-mature to comment on it."

Responding to a question halt of the US drone strikes in Pakistan, Aslam said that at the moment there are no drone strikes and Pakistan expects the US would continue this policy since drone strikes are counterproductive with a growing consensus on that view.

Referring to a resolution by the European Parliament and reports presented to the Human Rights Council Session by Ben Emerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, hearings in the British, Dutch and the European Parliaments on the question of drone strikes, the foreign office spokesperson said that in view of a very strong international consensus emerging, hopefully the US will refrain from resuming strikes.

Accusations Modi

In response to the question regarding accusations made by the Indian prime ministerial candidate Narender Modi that Pakistani backed militants are involved in terrorist activities in Indian Kashmir, the foreign office said they saw the statement as part of the election season in India.

"Unlike Pakistan where India is not an election issue, in India, Pakistan becomes an election issue unfortunately."

On the allegation, Aslam said that Pakistan condemns terrorism as Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism which has its roots in the events in the region over the last 30 years.

Mediation in Kashmir

Commenting on question regarding the Indian rejection of Nawaz Sharif’s demand that the play a mediator’s role in solving the Kashmir issue, Aslam said Jammu and Kashmir issue is one of the oldest disputes on UN Security Council agenda and a United Nations Military Observer Group is deployed in India and Pakistan.

"It is important for India and Pakistan to resolve this issue in order to move like other regions towards developing good neighborly relations," she said.

“What Prime Minister [Nawaz] essentially said in The Hague is that if there is reluctance on Indian side to resolve this issue bilaterally, our common friends can help convince India to come to the negotiating table. It’s not an internal affair of India.”

Ban on flag waving of foreign countries during WorldT20

On a question regarding Bangladesh government’s decision of not allowing Bangladeshi spectators to hold flags or to cheer the Cricket team of Pakistan during the World Twenty20, the spokesperson said that it was not a Pakistan specific issue and that spectators were asked not to carry flags of other countries, applicable to all the countries participating in the tournament.

“As regards the rights of the spectators, because these events generate revenue both for ICC and the host government, it is in the domain of the ICC. ICC negotiates the framework with the host government. ICC has already taken up this matter,” said Aslam.

She further said that as a participant in this event, Pakistan had raised some security issues with Bangladesh which were resolved to satisfaction.

COMMENTS (2)

Haider | 10 years ago | Reply

She has emptied whole tube of lip stick on her lips. Bringing shame to Islamic women. Is she ashamed of our traditional values? Is this how an Islamic woman should present herself to the world (if we are truly the custodians of Islam)?

Parvez | 10 years ago | Reply

Lets hope the crew and more so our government REMEMBERS to thank the Libyan authorities for their co-operation.

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