Foreign office spokesperson Aizaz Chaudhry. PHOTO: APP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Pakistan towards the end of July to discuss bilateral relations, situation in the region and other subjects of mutual interest, the Foreign Office spokesperson Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said on Friday.
Giving details of the visit of John Kerry in his weekly press briefing, Chaudhry said that the exact dates and agenda of the visit are being finalised by the two countries.
Kerry was scheduled to visit Pakistan at the end of June, but engagements over the developing situation in Syria and the Middle East meant that the visit was pushed forward.
Drone attacks
Replying to a question, he said that drone strikes constitute a breach of Pakistan's sovereignty, violation of international law and human rights besides being counter-productive to the fight against terror.
He said that the issue has been taken up with the United States and would also be taken up again in forthcoming contacts with America.
Afghan army chief's comments
The spokesperson, while commenting on Afghan Army Chief's statement accusing Pakistan of controlling the Taliban, said that Pakistan is sincere in its efforts to see return of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
"The best route to achieve peace and stability is a robust reconciliation process for which Pakistan is willing to extend every possible help," he said.
Chaudhry hoped that the sincerity of Pakistan will be appreciated and reciprocated and that negative statements avoided.
Ties with India
Answering a question, he said that former Foreign Secretary Shahryar Ahmad Khan has been asked by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to conduct Track-II diplomacy with India, something for which he is already in India.
Chaudhry said that Track-II diplomacy has always been part of the overall peace process with India, complementing and supporting efforts for peace wherever they were possible.
Replying to a question on reports of the Indian Border Security Force facilitating militants entering Pakistan, the spokesperson said that the two countries have a border management mechanism and contact each other whenever need arises.
He, however, said that Pakistan expects that its policy of having good neighbourly relations with India would be reciprocated from the other side.
China deals
The spokesperson said that Pakistan and China have signed eight agreements and MoUs during the current visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to that country.
Chaudhry said that these include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Pak-China Economic Corridor which envisages an establishment of a ministerial-level joint cooperation committee and joint working groups for formulating a long term plan for an economic corridor and the promotion of infrastructure.
The spokesperson said that other documents signed on Friday include an agreement on economic and technical cooperation; a letter of exchange on anti-polio equipment; a letter of exchange for a bilateral training course on textile management and flood relief; an MoU on the cooperation between Communist Party of China and PML(N); cooperation between the Chinese Centre for Contemporary World Study and Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad; an agreement on a Pakistan-China cross border cable system and an agreement between the Punjab Government and the ZTE Corporation of China.
COMMENTS (9)
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@hedgefunder: If you do not know the Chinese helped us with our nuclear and missile programs. Suffice it to say they do not stab us in the back.
That said, why is Kerry bothering to visit?
@syed baqar ahsan: Has Pakistan actually got any real and serious friends ? The Americans have always delivered and yet have always been not acknowledged for their efforts ! The Chinese have never really delivered anything and yet they are "sweeter than honey" friends ! The Saudis have always funded their agendas in the country of their own visions and nothing more ! So who really is Pakistan's FRIEND ?
@syed baqar ahsan: What about the other great friend ? The one who has never provided anything and yet is sweeter than Honey ? These are the policies which have let this nation down again and again ! The reason that Pakistan even matters today is purely due to the fact that its got Nukes and those too can fall in wrong hands pretty easily as the basic structure in the Country is seriously Questionable ! Pakistan simply can not afford to make any mistakes as the rest of world will not watch and not act if and when the time comes ! Rest assure it will come too !
@Hedgefunder: I appreciate your candid views,now I thing as a habit we remember daily Americans it will take some time to get rid of that smelly blanket.A big lot in Pakistan still are some illusions/old mind set about USA that he is a great friend of Pakistan.
He's been to India, Afghanistan, China, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Egypt and 15 other countries - bound to land in Pakistan eventually. Rather than depend on pronouncements from Pakistan foreign office I would wait until you read an announcement from the American's.
This is more important as Pakistan and the US both stand to benefit from friendly ties while antipathy would harm both.
Now this is an important news for pakistan as Senetor Kerry visited recently India and skipped Pakistan. Now a question is what agenda will be in his forthcoming visit to pakistan at the end of this month as the game in afghanistan is going to be over! Pakistan and the US both stand to benefit from friendly ties while antipathy would harm both.
The more you talk in FO about Americans you loose you own value better not to talk about them at all because Americans have played double game with us while remained involved in our all matter as friend and used us for all negative purposes.
Why is Kerry bothering to visit ? US has already reduced their AID Budget to the Country! They have already lost their importance in the bigger picture and no changes are likely in near future either ! Oh Yes ! They will require your Vote for Loans at IMF still, as they simply are dry of funds too ! They also have their all weather friend, who will stand by them, but simply not bailed them out of anything at all !