April 25
The Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal on Thursday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement during Iran’s official visit was taken out of context.
Addressing weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, the spokesman while clarifying the statement of the prime minister in Iran said Prime Minister Imran Khan was referring to non-state actors using Pakistani soil under foreign influence to carry out activities in Pakistan or coordinating from Pakistan and the case in point is likes of Kulbhushan Jadhav and local facilitators.
Dr Faisal said that the remarks regarding Kashmir in joint Pak-Iran declaration is a bigger success.
Regarding Dr Afia’s return, the spokesperson said that efforts were underway to bring her back to Pakistan. He clarified that he never said Dr Aafia Siddiqui is not willing to return to Pakistan, my statement was reported out of context.
Dr Faisal said that Pakistan has offered Sri Lanka all out support and cooperation after the tragic attacks on Easter, adding that President Dr. Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi called their respective Sri Lankan counterparts and affirmed that the people and government of Pakistan stood in complete solidarity with their Sri Lankan brethren.
“So far Sri Lanka has not sought any help from Pakistan,” he said.
To a question on Indian suspension of Kashmir border trade with India, he the spokesman said trade and other confidence building measures are important between the neighboring countries and Indian decision to stop the trade is regrettable. Pakistan is committed to Kartarpur Corridor and awaits the next meeting with India in this regard, he said.
Expressing deep concern of Pakistan on plight of Kashmiris and incarceration of Hurriyet leaders, Dr Faisal said intensified atrocities continue in Kashmir and in their latest acts of violence two youth were martyred by occupying forces in Bijbehara, adding that Pakistan condemns continued incarceration of Chairman JKLF Yasin Malik on trumped up charged, despite his deteriorating health.
He told a questioner that no firing range is being constructed in the US embassy in Islamabad. Islamabad Police and the US embassy are cooperating for upgradation of Islamabad Capital Territory s firing range facilities.