Despite disappointment, Pakistan hopes talks can resolve border clashes: FO

Foreign Office spokesperson says Pakistan hopes DGMOs of both countries meet soon to resolve issues of border clashes.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani government on Friday called for an immediate meeting between senior military officials from Pakistan and India to stem tensions across the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed his disappointment on Thursday over the continued border skirmishes despite an agreement between premiers of both countries to halt them.

In response, a spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign ministry said that continued ceasefire violations by the Indian forces at the LoC and working boundary was a matter of 'grave concern', but talks should move forward for the restoration of peace.

“We believe that the decision of the two Prime Ministers about the meeting of the Directors General Military Operations (DGMOs) must be implemented immediately to resolve this matter.”

The spokesperson rejected that Pakistan was responsible for the tensions

“The present leadership wants good neighborly relations with India. The Prime Minister has gone to every length to send out positive signals.”

Firing incidents along the LoC have increased over the past few weeks with both sides accusing each other for the escalation.

The rare face-to-face talks with senior military officials from the nuclear-armed neighbors were expected to take place by the end of this month.

However, the foreign office spokesperson said there was not update yet on the meeting.

“We hope that the military officials can meet soon and resolve this matter,” he said, adding that Pakistan was disappointed with the violations which have seen 27 posts attacked and three people including a soldier being killed in Pakistan.

On the prosecution of Mumbai attackers, the spokesperson said that the judicial process was still going on.

US visit “highly successful”

The spokesperson described the recently concluded visit by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Washington as ‘highly successful.’

He said the Prime Minister had focused on all issues of national interest including the economy.

Nawaz sought US cooperation for the resolution of energy issues, trade cooperation, social sector development, counter-terrorism, and regional stability.

The spokesperson further said the premier had forcefully articulated the country’s strong opposition to drone strikes in the country’s tribal areas.

“We do hope that the drone strikes will end,” the official maintained.

“The strategy is working and we should give it sometime. Hopefully, we will have a good solution to it.”

He denied the recent Washington Post report that Pakistani authorities had secretly endorsed the CIA-piloted drone program. He also ruled out the possiblity of pursuing the matter of drones in the International Criminal Court, saying neither Pakistan nor the US has ratified it.

On subjects of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and Dr Shakil Afridi, the spokesperson said that while the matter of Dr Afridi was pending in the courts, the government was making attempts whereby Siddiqui can spend the remainder of her statement in Pakistan.