The law-enforcement authorities and the people of Pakistan have rendered huge sacrifices. We have also achieved significant successes against terrorists. It has been our policy not to allow the territory of Pakistan to be used against any other country. Whenever our law-enforcement authorities come across terrorists, action is taken, said Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry at the weekly media briefing which was dominated by questions about the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Islamabad.
Mr Kerry arrived here on Wednesday night and returned early Friday morning.Secretary Kerry told reporters after his meetings with Pakistani civilian and military leadership that addressing the threat posed by cross-border militancy was a key element of the resumed strategic dialogue.
The issue of ending cross-border militancy and terrorists safe havens on Pakistani territory was raised in almost all meetings Mr Kerry had in Islamabad.
At one point while speaking to journalists, Mr Kerry alluded to the possibility of Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiris presence in Pakistan.
He said: Zawahiri was violating Pakistan1s sovereignty.
The FO spokesman reminded that besides Pakistani forces directly combating militants, the government had been underscoring the need for effective border management with Afghanistan in its dialogues with the Afghan government and ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) for preventing cross-border movement of militants.
Counter-terrorism and border management would be among major issues that will be taken up during the revived dialogue, whose ministerial session will be held in about six months.
The resumed dialogue, the spokesman said, had provided a solid framework to pursue tangible cooperation between the two countries.
The spokesman, however, agreed with Mr Kerrys views that the challenge of fighting militancy was too enormous for Pakistan to deal with alone.
We believe that all concerned need to join hands and cooperate in order to deal with the challenges of militancy, extremism and terrorism which is our common enemy, he said echoing the US secretary who had a day earlier said: This is a challenge that cannot be met by any one country. It will take a united effort to resolve the issues of safe havens and political reconciliation.
Asked if the government would take the Zawahiri reference in Mr Kerrys statement seriously, he said anyone possessing any information should share it with Pakistani law-enforcement agencies.
Our law-enforcement authorities take swift action against any individual or group committing acts of terrorism,he added.
IRAN-PAKISTAN GAS PIPELINE: The Pakistani side presented a non-paper to the US delegation on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, explaining its position on the project.
The rationale for giving a non-paper to the US side was to convey our perspective, with particular reference to whether or not this project would attract US sanctions, the FO spokesman said.
The Pakistani assessment given to the US was that the project did not attract American sanctions on the controversial Iranian nuclear programme.
The spokesman said no further discussions were held on the matter.
INDIA: The spokesman said that Pakistan had proposed dates to India for two working groups of the third round of resumed bilateral peace dialogue.
Almost three weeks ago Islamabad had suggested August 27-28 to India for a meeting on Wullar Barrage and Sept 16-17 for talks on Sir Creek.
The spokesman said New Delhi146s response was still awaited, adding that Pakistan was also awaiting dates for meetings to be hosted by India in the third round.
There are indications that the composite dialogue will resume soon. The leadership of the two countries has already expressed the desire to see improved relations, Aizaz Chaudhry said.
1We hope that the two sides will engage in an uninterruptible Composite Dialogue,1 he added.
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