Pakistan has opposed sale of US drones to India: FO

Nafees Zakaria says India assists TTP and other terror outfits; US and Pakistan wish to strengthen bilateral ties

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said on Friday that Pakistan had opposed the sale of US drones to India as that would contribute to regional instability, Express News reported.

"India assists the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist organisations," he added.

Zakaria was speaking at the Foreign Office's weekly press briefing. He hinted that it was his last speech after which he will hand over the services to Dr Muhammad Faisal, who has been nominated as the new spokesperson.

The spokesperson said Pakistan and the US wished to strengthen relations, based on better understanding of each other’s concerns and interests and cooperation in diverse fields.

“During US Secretary Rex Tillerson’s visit to the country and talks with the prime minister, bilateral and regional issues were discussed,” he said. “He was informed about Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations and successes on which Tillerson acknowledged the country’s contribution and sacrifices in the fight against terrorists and the country’s strategic and economic importance in the region,” he added.



The spokesperson also shed lights on how of late there had been appreciable development in foreign relations.

“The prime minister led Pakistan’s delegation to Istanbul for 9th D-8 Summit. He as the chair of D-8, handed over the chairmanship to Turkish President Teyyep Erdogan,”

He said all member countries of the group had reaffirmed their resolve to fight against all threats - particularly, terrorism, extremism and sectarianism - to economic development.

“In terms of gaining significance at the global level during Pakistan’s chairmanship, D8 achieved status of an Observer at the United Nations,” he added.

Talking about Indian oppression in occupied Kashmir, he said  October 27 was being observed as Black Day by people of Kashmir and their supporters.

“Almost seven decades back, on this day, India without any constitutional and moral justification forcibly took control of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and since then. Indian forces are mercilessly killing innocent and unarmed Kashmiris, vandalising their properties and indulging in other inhuman acts,” Zakaria said.

He added that in this regard both the president and prime minister have issued statements, which were being conveyed to all the corners of the world. “The international community is being sensitised on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the plight of Kashmiris in Indian-occupied Kashmir,” he added.