Pakistan warns India against hot pursuit in Kashmir
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, July 24, IRNA
Pakistan-India-Warning
Pakistan on Monday warned against hot pursuit inside its territory or Azad Kashmir, saying that nobody can get away with such a policy.
Commenting on reports that India is considering the policy of hot pursuit, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam cautioned at the weekly news briefing that nobody should make the mistake that Pakistan would allow hot pursuit.
"This is highly irresponsible on the part of those in India, who are leaking out such reports as hot pursuit is not an option and the only option is to sit on the table and hold talks," she said.
She pointed out that in the past as well about a million troops were amassed on the border with Pakistan but ultimately the two countries had to resort to dialogue.
To a question the spokesperson said peace process is in the interest of people of Pakistan, India and the entire region.
Pakistan is committed to the peace process and wants its early resumption.
Replying to another question Tasnim Aslam said foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India might interact on the sidelines of the forthcoming South Asian regional forum, the SAARC foreign ministers' conference in Dhaka.
She told a questioner that as per understanding, Pakistan is providing consular access to India for civilian prisoners and fishermen held in the jails of the country.
Access was provided to India on 18th of this month in Lahore, today in different jails of Punjab and tomorrow the access would be provided to jails in Karachi.
India has so far provided access to Pakistan at two places.
As per agreement, the two countries were to provide consular access to civilian prisoners and fishermen by 31st of this month.
Nuclear expansion: When her reaction was sought to an article published in the Washington Post about Pakistan's nuclear program, the spokesperson said it is no secret that Pakistan is a nuclear weapons state.
Similarly, nuclear facility in the town of Khushab in Punjab is also not a secret.
This is indigenous facility and not under IAEA safeguards.
She said Pakistan does not want nuclear or conventional arms race and in this connection pointed out, "We were not the first to introduce nuclear weapons or test them in the region."
OIC-Lebanon: Responding to questions she said the president and the prime minister of Pakistan have spoken to other leaders of the OIC and secretary general of the organization on the Lebanese crisis.
Pakistan supports a political initiative by OIC be it as a summit or a foreign ministers' level.
She said the prime minister has also talked to his Lebanese counterpart and said planes with relief assistance comprising medicines and food items are ready to fly to Lebanon as soon as humanitarian assistance corridor is in place.
To another question the spokesperson said Pakistan's embassy in Beirut is open.
So far 69 Pakistanis have been evacuated from Beirut to Damascus and temporarily lodged in Pakistan International School there.
They are to be repatriated to Pakistan on the first available flight.
The first batch is likely to reach Pakistan the day after July 25.
The spokesperson said, "Our embassy is trying to establish contacts with all Pakistanis and they are being provided all possible assistance. The embassy has been directed to purchase air tickets for those who cannot afford."
About terrorism, she said Pakistan is taking all actions on its side as per its international commitment.
It has been cooperating with ISAF, NATO and Afghan Government and would continue to do so.
2020/235/2322/1412
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