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| N-proliferation probe over: FO |
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Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Rules out action against two charities declared terrorist entities by US; says Kabul asked to fence, mine border to stop infiltration; terms Kashmir massacre terrorist act
ISLAMABAD: The release of a senior nuclear scientist linked to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan marks a closure of investigations into the proliferation of weapons technology by the pioneer of the nation’s nuclear bomb, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.
Mohammed Farooq, who worked at the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), was released last week after two years in detention — the last of 11 people held for their alleged links to AQ Khan’s black market network.
“We have conducted thorough investigations in this affair. We have shared our information with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and other countries, including the United States,” Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told a weekly press briefing. “As far we are concerned this chapter is closed. I would presume that with Dr Farooq’s release there is a closure to that case,” she said.
The spokeswoman reiterated that Pakistan would not allow outsiders, including the IAEA or the United States, access to those who were implicated in the proliferation, and that it if there were further questions in the case, it would address them.
“We have repeatedly said that whatever information is required, questions can be forwarded to the government of Pakistan. We would get the answers. We will do the investigations and transmit this information. There is no question of direct access,” Aslam said.
The spokesperson also said Pakistan condemned the massacre of 34 Hindus in held Kashmir as an act of terrorism, and hoped the incident would not affect the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
“The killings of 34 Hindus in the Doda district is unfortunate, it is a terrorist act and we condemn it,” she said. “It will not have any impact on the peace process,” between Pakistan and India, she said referring to the peace dialogue launched by the nuclear rivals in January 2004.
Replying to a question about the US decision to declare two charities as terrorist organisations, the spokesperson said Pakistan has no plan to take action against these organisations. The State Department last Friday designated Jamaatud Dawa and one of its affiliates, Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq, as terrorist organisations, saying they were fronts for Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of the most feared groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. The State Department said all assets held by the two charities in the United States would be frozen.
The spokesperson said Pakistan was under no obligation to comply with the US decision. “We are not required, and we do not put any entities on the terrorist lists, if action is taken under the domestic US law,” she said. “However, if the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee were to designate any organisation (as a terrorist group), then it becomes legal obligation to take action.”
Commenting on the Iran-Pakistan, India, or IPI gas pipeline project, the spokeswoman said the much-debated project would be completed even without India, adding that Islamabad and Tehran have almost reached an agreement to finalise the project. She however, added that the Iranian deputy minister of petroleum would hold talks with India in this context.
The spokeswoman expressed optimism that the lingering Kashmir dispute would be resolved as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people. She added that the Kashmiri leadership would be in contact with Pakistan and India, which would be helpful in resolving the issue.
About the proposal of mining and fencing of the border inside Afghanistan Pakistan made during the meeting between Foreign Minster Khurshid M Kasuri and his Dutch counterpart, she said there was movement not only from Pakistan but also from Afghanistan to Pakistan as well.
Commenting on South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), the spokeswoman underscored that there was no change in its role, adding that Pakistan wanted to make this organisation more effective.
To another question, she noted that the tripartite exercises began in Bahrain, which increased the cooperation on the exchange of information of security defence an information. She said the next meeting of Pakistan-US Joint Working Group would be held in the United States in which issue pertaining to civil nuclear technology to Pakistan would be discussed.
On the proposed meeting between the Kashmiri leaders and the Indian Prime Minister, she said Pakistan had all along been emphasizing on the importance of associating Kashmiri leadership with the peace process.
She pointed out that the Kashmiri leaders had been meeting with the Pakistani and Indian leaders and also each other. Although the Kashmiri leaders were not sitting on the table, she said their meetings with the Pakistani and Indian leadership were part of the trilateral engagement and Islamabad welcomed it.
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
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12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD: Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while two others were injured in a clash with militants during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the ISPR said on Monday.
S more |
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The CIA police here on Monday claimed to have foiled an attack on Americans staying at a five-star hotel and arrested six terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
Addressing a press conference, SS more |
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Govt taking court for a ride
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: She fought her case in the media. She won her battle in the judicial forum too. But still the government is bent on making an example out of her for refusing to follow the illegal dictates of her min more |
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
By Azeem Samar
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
Speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of second Chinese-m more |
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Tension between Punjab and Sindh over opening of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals has touched a new high as the former has sought the Centre’s intervention.
The Punjab has sai more |
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team is all set to thwart the attempt of an unscrupulous combine of oil industry heavyweights and some functionaries of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Re more |
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Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
Reports from the Shangla district more |
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
ISLAMABAD: The protest of the students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) against thrashing of Professor Malik Tahir by Registrar Brigadier (R) Obaidullah Ranjha entered its fifth consecutive more |
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
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FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
By Hanif Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received list of properties from Foreign Office, which were in use of foreigners in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, but these were not shown in annual tax more |
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Repealing of 17th Amendment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun efforts to create consensus on repealing the 17th Amendment before presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
The prime minis more |
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Three suspects held in Mohmand
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: The security forces arrested three suspected persons during search operation in Safi subdivision of Mohmand Agency, official sources said Monday. The sources said the security forces carried out sear more |
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No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman again negated on Monday the presence of Blackwater, DynCorp or any other foreign security agency in the country. “Neither the Blackwater and the DynCorp nor any other s more |
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
HELD SRINAGAR: Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir, the army said on Monday.
more |
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The Ta more |
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
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Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
