No plans for Nawaz-Modi meeting on sidelines of UN General Assembly: FO
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam, during her weekly briefing in Islamabad, said, “Pakistan wants to resolve all the disputes with India through negotiations for peace and development in the region.”
Aslam clarified that India cancelled the talks between foreign secretaries of the two neighbouring countries on the pretext of the Pakistani high commissioner’s meeting with Hurriyat leaders.
Referring to a decision of the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan to lodge a formal protest with India through the Foreign Office over lack of relief efforts in Indian-administered Kashmir, Aslam said, “Pakistan is very much concerned over the plight of flood affected people in occupied Kashmir and has offered assistance to India in relief activities.”
She said every Pakistani felt the pain and sufferings of Kashmiris and were ready to help.
“Even Azad Kashmir’s government has appealed that the LOC should be opened to undertake relief activities.”
In response to a question about allegations levelled by outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai against Pakistan, the spokesperson said that Pakistan was looking forward to working with the new Afghan leadership.
She added that Pakistan wants to resolve issues of terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil and cross border attacks through dialogue.
Further, when a journalist brought up the issue of drone attacks in light of a strike in North Waziristan on September 24, which killed at least 10 suspected militants, Aslam said “Pakistan is raising this issue at different forums to further strengthen public opinion against drone strikes.”
She added that a resolution was adopted at the UN Human Rights Council which termed drone strikes as illegal, having no sanction under international law.
“Both countries are in contact to reschedule the visit at the earliest. However, no dates have yet been fixed,” Aslam said, regarding the postponement in the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan.
When asked the reason for a delay in Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline, Aslam said both the countries had signed an agreement under which Iran was to provide a soft loan of $500 million to build the pipeline of Pakistan’s side; however because of sanctions, it could not fulfil the commitment.
“Hence, Pakistan could not make any progress,” she said. “Both sides, however, are committed to the project, and are looking for new ways to make that possible.”
In reply to a question if there was a planned meeting between Pakistani and Iranian leaders in New York, Aslam said Sartaj Aziz had met Iran’s foreign minister on Wednesday, while another meeting was not scheduled.
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Modi is a master showman and will ensure that he remains the focus of media during his US trip. His public speech at Madison ( Modison) Square Garden will be the first of its kind by any non American politician. Even Obama did not have such meeting. I am more than sure that his speech in UN will be that of a statesman and not a politician. Modi is keen to have his name in world history books and is working quietly and smartly on that.
"She said every Pakistani felt the pain and sufferings of Kashmiris and were ready to help." - Its ironical how Pakistanis cannot feel their own pain and cares only for muslims in Indian Kashmir.
When leaders of these nations conduct dozens of meetingS with others , they last for only 10 or 15 minutes at the most. What serious issues can one talk abou? It is a waste of time for everybody.
It is a good thing that NS has cancelled such a meeting, for Modi is a tough street fighter, nothing else.
We know what NS is going to talk in UN assembly! It is endless repetitive word K, K, K, K........ As it was repeated not less than 67 times for every year after year 1947.
“Even Azad Kashmir’s government has appealed that the LOC should be opened to undertake relief activities.” means Azad Kashmir's government want to receive relief material being distributed in J&K by people, organisations and Govt. of India..
New Delhi has conveyed a clear message to Islamabad that terrorism and talks cannot go together.
Modi has over 40 meetings scheduled during this short trip with important government officials, CEOs and members of the Indiian-American community. The Pakistani Foreign Office is in its same old rut. It is therefore best that Modi not waste his time on Indo-Pak relations at this time or even in the near future. There will be much greater returns if he focuses on trade and investment rather than talk to someone chasing its own tail.
"Aslam said, “Pakistan is very much concerned over the plight of flood affected people in occupied Kashmir and has offered assistance to India in relief activities.”
Whatever it does or not, it is sure to do one thing ......... make the separatist movement in Baluchistan and Hazara provinces and other parts of the country stronger. Just two days back, I saw a video in a Pakistani channel where a person was claiming that he had to sell his blood to pay the electricity bill. IMF has canceled it s meeting, ADB has said it won't finance Pakistan, Government says that Khand and Qadri's protests have cost the economy $3 billion on losses, Presidents of China and Sri Lanka canceled their visits and Pakistan talks of Kashmir. It is like rubbing salt on the wounds of not only the Baluch but also most Pakistani poor. Few days ago, I was hopeful that Modi and NS would meet in New York but the talks won't be substantial. Now, I think that Modi did the right thing by refusing to meet NS. It is better for India to keep its distance from Pakistan as Pakistan keeps destroying itself from within. In just another 3 months, Iran will be demanding Pakistan pay its contractual damage of $3 million/day for reneging on IP pipeline and will not show any leniency after it has seen Pakistan's attitude with both India and Afghanistan. Modi offered assistance to Pakistan in good spirit. But Pakistan is offering assistance to India by claiming that India is discriminating its Kashmiri citizens (meaning muslims). There is a huge difference in the attitude of India and Pakistan.
The PML(N)government is being seen as quite weak to tackle the internal problems of resignation demand by PTI & PAT. The army also appears to be against NS Govt. The present scenario does not hope for any positive result. even if the talk resumes. presently NS has no alternative but to take a firm stand in line with the current policy of Pakistan ( controlled by Army) to hope for some support from public / political parties.
Interestingly why? both of them have so much in common - democracy in each respective country has elected allegedly criminals (one through rigged elections) - and India is actively helping Pakistani democracy.
We all knew that except that someone in Islamabad was shooting off their mouths. Think!! Why would anyone travel over 8,000 nautical miles to meet someone who lives across the border 400 miles away. You want to need new people, that is if they want to meet you as well. But in case of NS they are more likely to hear the chant of "Go Nawaz Go" and mistake that for perhaps NS being encouraged to propel himself to greater heights.