Silence on Bangladesh: Pakistan has policy of non-interference, says Sartaj Aziz

Premier's national security, foreign policy advisor says Parliament has right to pass any resolution.

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz told the Senate on Wednesday that Pakistan’s foreign policy was formulated on the principles of non-interference and no favourites, especially with regards to relations with its neighbours.

About the resolution passed by the National Assembly regarding Abdul Quader Molla's exectution, Aziz said that the parliament was sovereign and had the authority to pass any resolution. However, the Foreign Office maintains that it is an internal issue of Bangladesh.

Aziz reminded that Bangladesh was a brotherly country of Pakistan and after 1971, it was agreed between them that they would not dig up the past.

Ties with India

Aziz said that improving relations with India was a priority of the government and pointed towards the Prime Minister’s talks with his Indian counterparts by phone and the September meeting in New York.

However, Aziz said that the current atmosphere in India, due to elections, there was little chance of dialogue.

The advisor said Kashmir was not a bilateral issue between the neighboring countries. However, without solving the Kashmir issue, the dream of durable peace, progress, prosperity and development in the region can not be materialised.

Relations with Afghanistan

On relations with Afghanistan, the adviser said the premier’s recent visit to Afghanistan had helped in removing misunderstanding between the two countries, and ties have improved.

Aziz pointed out how Pakistan had stayed clear of the row between the US government and Afghan Presidet Hamid Karzai on signing the new security agreement. During the recent visit to Afghanistan, the adviser said, Nawaz Sharif told the Afghan President that Pakistan would not interfere in its internal affairs.

The adviser noted that unrest in Afghanistan did not suit Pakistan and it wanted Afghans to resolve their own issues. Thus, a proxy war in Afghanistan must be avoided as it would further deteriorate the situation there.

He observed the forceful occupation of Taliban in Afghanistan would not be in the interest of Afghanistan adding that Pakistan would look to support the next government in Afghanistan following elections in 2014.

Protests on drones must be symbolic

Briefing about ties with the US, Aziz said that the strategic dialogue had restarted. He said Pakistan also wanted to improve economic ties with the US.

On drone attacks, Aziz said the matter had been raised at all international forums, with the UN Secretary General also issuing a statement on the matter.

At the same time, Aziz claimed that rethinking has also begun in the US about drone attacks.

The adviser agreed with parliamentarians that sit-ins will not stop drone attacks and that protest in this regard should be symbolic. He said NATO supplies were continuing through Balochistan.