ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Thursday reassured Afghanistan that it fully respected the neighbouring country’s sovereignty and had no intentions to annex the Wakhan Corridor.
The issue of Wakhan Corridor, which separates Tajikistan from Gilgit-Baltistan, was raised in the Foreign Office briefing in which queries were raised about speculative reports that Pakistani officials had recently visited Tajikistan in an effort to ‘annex’ the corridor.
“On the Wakhan Corridor, what I can say is that I have seen this endless speculation. It is a part of Afghan territory. There is no question of Pakistan having designs on one of its neighbors; the question doesn’t arise. So, I would deem this assertion too speculative and totally erroneous,” Spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan replied.
He was asked about reports that officials, including those from the security establishment, had recently visited Tajikistan. The spokesman did not deny the visits but clarified that Tajikistan was a very close friend and partner of Pakistan.
“We have long-standing relations with Tajikistan and exchange of visits and consultations across the governments is a normal feature of this relation. And any speculation regarding Pakistan and Tajikistan working to destabilize or something I would reject. And our relationship, like with all friendly countries, is based on the principles of UN Charter,” he clarified.
To another query about the present state of relations with Afghanistan, especially after reports that Pakistan had carried out aerial strikes inside Afghanistan against TTP camps, he replied, “One of the key problems right now is the sanctuaries which the terrorist group TTP enjoys on the Afghan soil. The two sides are in contact on this situation. Pakistan, its armed forces and security agencies continue to work on bordering Pakistan-Afghan territory to thwart any security threats to the territory of Pakistan”.
Terrorism sanctuaries he pointed out, enjoyed by the terrorists remain one key problem between the two countries, and Pakistan will continue to engage with the Afghan authorities that they have to address this genuine concern.
However, at the same time, the spokesman pointed out that both countries understood the importance of this equation and importance of good relations and were in touch through diplomatic channels. “Embassies in the two countries are working. We have a charge d’ affaires in Kabul and an Afghan senior diplomat is also heading their embassy here. Diplomatic contacts are ongoing and like between neighboring countries, there are multi-layered engagements which are ongoing, often not reported in the media. But this remains an important relationship, and we are continuing to work to improve and solidify and stabilize this vital relationship”.
When asked about the future of bilateral relations with the US as a new government steps in, the spokesman said Pakistan will would continue to work with the new administration (of Donald Trump) to further solidify and strengthen this vital relationship. “On Pakistan-US relations and the new president, what I can tell you is that American people have spoken. A new president has been elected who is soon going to take oath. Pakistan-US relations have a very long history, and the relations remain rich and dense”.
Commenting on a US Congressman moving a bill in the Congress to revoke Pakistan’s major non-Nato ally status and at the same John Kirby clarifying that Pakistan is a partner, not an ally, the spokesman agreed that it was a fact that Pakistan was not part of any treaty alliance with the United States. “It is also a fact that Pakistan has been designated a major non-Nato ally since 2004. But it is also a fact that Pakistan’s contribution to maintaining peace and security in the region and the fight against terrorism is far too great to be encapsulated in technical and legal labels,” he said.
To another query regarding reports that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had been invited to attend Trump’s oath-taking besides some selected foreign delegates, the spokesman responded, “Our ambassador is going to represent, as in the past, the Government of Pakistan at the inauguration of the new president. Secondly, we have seen media reports of former foreign minister and MNA Bilawal Bhutto receiving an invitation. This invitation has not been routed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so his spokesman will be in a better position to comment on that. About who has been invited or who has not been invited, we are not in a position to comment on that”.
Commenting on the recent high-level meeting between India and Afghanistan in Dubai, the spokesman appeared unperturbed.
“Afghanistan is a sovereign country. We have never aspired nor we have tried nor do we intend to aspire to have a veto on what kind of relations it wants to have with other countries. It is their sovereign right, the kind of relationship it wants to develop with other countries”.
Pakistan once again denied that it was providing weapons or arms to Ukraine. “We have had multi-layered dialogue with Russia. It’s on the diplomatic track and the defense track. And there are range of issues. It’s a very broad agenda which is expanding because of the growth of relations on both tracks. The dialogue agenda is expanding and it is an ongoing process. Just to repeat, we are not providing weapons or arms to Ukraine,” clarified the spokesman who has served as ambassador to Russia.