Pakistan Government

"the video tape was available to the international media just days before in Jalalabad…Pakistan has always demanded bringing proofs against Osama to surface what is its position now… the video has been released and everyone has watched it".

-- Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi, Spokesperson, Islamabad, December 14

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN AND THE D.G. ISPR - 11 DECEMBER 2001

No statement was made in the beginning and the Press Conference opened with the question-answer session.

QUESTION - ANSWER SESSION:

The following issues were discussed during the question-answer session:

* When his comments were sought on a reported statement by Mr. Qanooni, Interior Minister-designate in the future set-up of Afghanistan Administration, claiming presence of about five thousand Pakistan army men in Afghanistan, the DG, ISPR said:

These are allegations that have been made in the past and continue to surface from time to time. There is no truth whatsoever in these allegations. They are absolutely false. Pakistan army men have never been inside Afghanistan. Unfortunately, Indians and sometimes some other countries have made such totally baseless allegations. During the past two months, specially after 11 September 2001, the frustrated Indian establishment has been making one allegation after another trying to implicate Pakistan and Pakistan army in any way they can. At one stage it was said that there is one Pak army brigade, which is about 3-4 thousand men, inside Afghanistan fighting against the Northern Alliance. Once the military strike against Afghanistan started, people questioning as to where the Pakistan army was.

Then we heard a rumor published in an Indian newspaper saying that Pakistan army transport aircraft landed at Khost and took aboard Pakistan military personnel. Now in Khost after the bombing by the coalition forces no air strip exists. Then their wild imagination created two Pakistani helicopters having gone to Kunduz to take out two brigadiers and about one thousand men of Pakistan army. It was published in an Indian newspaper. Unfortunately, a few days later the same story was picked up by The New York Times which they published without any kind verification.

What they did not realize is that the distance from the Pakistan border to Kunduz is such that no helicopter in the world today can fly that distance and back without refueling midair. And there was no refueling carried out midair. Even in the Pentagon briefings the US spokesman pointed out that they have radar umbrella over Afghanistan and no aircraft can go into Afghanistan and leave taking so many people without coming to the notice. So it has been proved time and again that these news items basically published in Indian newspapers, are totally baseless, unfounded and false. Recently, we had repeated articles on Pakistani nuclear scientists, having shared nuclear information with unauthorized quarters, which is again a ridiculous allegation. I may point out that it was first published in an Indian newspaper Tribune of 22 November. Then it was picked up by The New York Times wherein they said that two Pakistani nuclear scientists have run away to Myanmar and the President of Pakistan has asked the Myanmar Government to give them asylum. What a ridiculous story! The names of two scientists that they have given don’t even exist on the rolls of the PAEC. It was an absolutely false and fabricated news. I think, it is time that newspapers who are picking up such articles from the Indian newspapers owe to the world that they should make sure about their authenticity before picking them up from Indian sources.

* To a supplementary question whether Pakistan would be launching a protest against the utterances of Mr. Qanooni with Mr. Karazai the Prime Minister-designate of the future Afghan Administration, and what steps Pakistan would be taking to check appearance of such baseless and unfounded stories in foreign papers, the Spokesman said:

The other day I had rejected these allegations and insinuations. I would like to reject these allegations once again. As far as interaction with the new interim Administration in Afghanistan is concerned, it should take over first and then the interaction would start. In the past for several years now these allegations have constantly been made as General Rashid Qureshi has pointed out. I had also in one of my briefings mentioned to you that whenever such allegations in the past were made, we challenged them asking that they should produce before the international media if they have got any army personnel in their custody. There was complete lull and nobody was brought forth. So these are motivated allegations and one should reject them outrightly. The same way are these news reports that some prestigious newspaper published without verifications. These are utter fabrications , motivated reports. The two scientists that have been mentioned having gone to Myanmar, there are no scientists of these names in the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

* Asked as to how Pakistan could claim having good relations with the interim Afghanistan Administration when few of its members were already coming out with venomous statements against Pakistan and those too while sitting in India, the Spokesman said:

As you are aware, President General Pervaiz Musharraf has already spoken to Mr. Hamid Karzai on telephone congratulating him on his appointment. The two leaders expressed the desire of close friendly relations with each other. We have no reason to believe that we would not have good relations with the new interim Administration once it assumes office in Afghanistan. One or two leaders making statements of the kind that they are making can best be ignored. We have already rejected insinuations and allegations.

The kind of relations that Pakistan has with Afghanistan go back to centuries. These are very close relations between the two peoples and two countries. The people of Afghanistan are aware of the sacrifices that Pakistan has made for their sake. Three million Afghan refugees are in Pakistan and we have been hosting them for about two decades. Afghans are good proud people. They value their friends and stand by them. Our relations are deeply rooted in history and cannot be spoiled by irresponsible statements here and there. These ties are very strong and would be further strengthened in the future, Inshall-Allah.

* To a question about the visit of Mr. Brahimi to the region, the Spokesman said:

As far as Mr. Brahimi is concerned we have exchange of views with regard to post-Bonn situation. He has left this morning (11 December) for Kabul. We talked about the new interim set-up. How it is going to come about and the arrangements going to be made. These are the things which he is going to discuss with Afghan authorities in Kabul. He would be returning back to Islamabad tomorrow providing us an opportunity of another session with him.

* When his views were sought on deployment of multi-national forces in Afghanistan, the Spokesman said:

As far as Multi-national forces are concerned, as you know, we have already favoured that kind of arrangement. This is the subject which the Security Council has to discuss. A resolution has to come on that. The UN has to discuss that with the member States and only then it would be determined who are going to contribute forces, how soon will that force be deployed, what will be the terms and conditions of deployment. As far as Pakistan’s viewpoint is concerned, we have maintained that in order to allow the new interim Administration to function freely, the city of Kabul be demilitarized and a multi-national force be placed there.

* To a question about Pakistanis caught in Afghanistan and the likely treatment to be given to them on return, the Spokesman stated:

Pakistanis who had gone there and are being repatriated now; first of all, what I can say off hand is, that they crossed the border without proper documents which in itself is an offence and now are re-entering the country. That is one charge I can think of; for the others, I think we will have to get in touch with the authorities to find out exact allegations against them. Only then it can be determined under what laws will they be tried.

* Asked if Pakistan had been asked by the United States or was investigating on its own role of any other scientists, apart from the two already in custody, with regard to their involvement with the Taliban or Al Qaeda, the DG ISPR said:

As far as these two scientists (Mr. Bashiruddin and Mr. Majid) are concerned, they are under detention and being investigated. If there are any leads from them others can also be investigated. I am not aware of any other scientists who have been questioned or are going to be questioned. I am not aware of any lead which leads to other nuclear scientists. So far as sharing of information with the United States, whatever information or intelligence the US has, is being shared with us and whatever we find out, we share with coalition partners.

* Asked if Islamabad was contemplating any action against appearance of false and baseless stories about Pakistan in the local and foreign media, the DG ISPR said:

We have just received information from our Embassy in Washington. They have sent us copies of the articles that have been published. We are going to inform the Embassy of what the exact facts are. I think we would be very grateful if investigative reporters like people gathering here, who are now becoming very sensitive and privy to this vicious circle of Indian newspapers articles being picked up by other newspapers in the United States and then Indians later on quoting the US newspapers like the New York Times and saying that now it is confirmed because a prestigious American paper like the New York Times has published the story. This circle needs to be broken. We are in contact with the (American) newspaper. We will provide them the evidence that we have to prove that they have picked up the stories without any kind of checking and investigation and they have published something which is utterly false.

* Asked if some Taliban leaders had taken refuge in Pakistan; secondly what steps the Government of Pakistan had taken to beef up security along Afghanistan border, the Spokesman said:

As far as the Taliban Ministers and leaders are concerned some of them have their families living here. They have been coming back and forth, visiting Pakistan. If you refer to the people working with the Embassy, they are still in the process of winding up. Their diplomatic visa status would soon be terminated and after that we will see how the things develop.

* To a supplementary question that few of Taliban stalwarts had announced the launching of a party the other day, the Spokesman said:

It is not launching a new party, they have just revived a party that used to exist before and have declared their allegiance to that party. In a way people are leaving their original groups and rejoining some other groups. The phenomenon has started, some of the Taliban leaders who have now either joined one of the original Mujahdeen Groups that they belong to, or this particular party that used to exist already. It is not a new party that has been launched.

DG, ISPR added: About the beefing up of the border I had already stated that Pakistan has decided not only to reinforce borders with Afghanistan to prevent any movement from across the border, but has also decided to use substantial number of regular army troops for the purpose. There is greatly increased mobile surveillance from the air as well as from the ground. So it is not just deployment of troops or additional beefing up of the borders, there is also a substantial increase in the surveillance from the air and from the ground.

* When his comments were sought on a reported statement by the Indian Prime Minister on conclusion of his visit to Japan, that atmosphere was not congenial for resumption of talks with Pakistan and that Islamabad was creating hurdles in the way of holding elections in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, the DG, ISPR said:

All I can say, it is very unfortunate for the Indian leadership to say what you have just stated. From the point view of Pakistan, all problems and conflicts which exist between India and Pakistan and the main problem which has bedeviled relationship between the two countries for the last well over half a century is Kashmir. Pakistan is very up-front in making an effort with India, President Musharraf having gone to Agra for a Summit meeting. Pakistan remains open to resolve all its issues, Kashmir being the major one, peacefully with India through dialogue.

As far as the other part of the question is concerned that the environment for talks do not exist, we differ with the Indian interpretation. I think, one needs to start talking and take the first step. Only that way the environment would improve and tensions would subside. I may reiterate that it is unfortunate if the Indian leadership holds such kind of views with regard to talks. Pakistan is not creating any kind of hurdles for holding of elections in the Indian Held Kashmir. The unfortunate part again is that for every problem that Indians face, which is of their own making, they blame Pakistan. They used suppression and oppression against hapless Kashmiris and then there was reaction to that by those civilian Kashmiris who have been prevented from any political elbow room for last more than a decade. Now as a last resort, they have taken up arms against the oppressor regime inside IHK.

* Asked as to how he viewed the latest Indian move to invite APHC leaders for talks and setting up a special group under Mr. C.K.Pant for the purpose, the Spokesman said:

I think, the APHC has already responded to that and said that they would talk only when Pakistan is also associated with the process.

* When asked about the present status of Mullah Abdul Zaeef, former Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, the Spokesman said:

He is a former Ambassador, winding up the affairs. Normally when a Mission is terminated a reasonable time is given to wind up the affairs and leave the country.

* When his attention was drawn to certain media reports that Pakistani nuclear scientists were being investigated by US officials, particularly when the US Spokesman had stated that they were cooperating with Pakistan on that account, the DG, ISPR said:

I am quite surprised to listen to your interpretation of what the US Spokesman said. This is not correct. They are cooperating with Pakistan, so as Pakistan is cooperating with them. It does not mean that Pakistan is interrogating someone from the United States. No. Pakistan’s own agencies are investigating this case.

Source: http://www.forisb.org/FOS01-82.htm

-- President Pervez Musharraf, interview to Far Eastern Economic Review,

-- Tasneem Noorani, Interior Secretary, interview with BBC

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN AND THE D.G. ISPR - 8 DECEMBER 2001

No opening statement was issued.

QUESTION - ANSWER SESSION:

The following issues were discussed during the question-answer session:

* When asked to comment on the statement of the Northern Alliance Interior Minister-designate, Younus Qanuni, in New Delhi, warning Pakistan not to interfere in Afghanistan, the Spokesman said:

Well, we have not seen the exact text of his remarks. However, we categorically reject any such allegation. Pakistan, if you look at past history, has made tremendous sacrifices for Afghanistan and has offered tremendous assistance and help to that war-torn country. It became the frontline state in Afghan people’s fight against foreign invasion. It opened its doors and wholeheartedly welcomed more than three million Afghan refugees, who continue to stay in Pakistan till today, for almost 22 years. Pakistan has been a home to a majority of the Afghan leadership also. They and their families have lived in Pakistan.

Even after the withdrawal of the foreign forces, Pakistan has made every effort to broker and to promote durable peace in Afghanistan. It gave its full support to the UN and OIC efforts for bringing durable peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan, besides supporting these international efforts, also made efforts of its own inside and outside Afghanistan with the leaders of both sides of the political divide. Pakistan’s record, as far as help to Afghanistan is concerned, is quite obvious. At the same time, Pakistan gave its unstinted and complete support to the recent UN peace efforts which have resulted in the Bonn Agreement. Pakistan hopes that this Agreement will bring in a new era of peace and stability in Afghanistan, and that the people and leaders of Afghanistan will finally be able to have a permanent political set-up in their country, which is friendly to all its neighbours.

* When his attention was drawn to certain reports claiming that Osma had already crossed over to Pakistan and whether Pakistan had enhanced surveillance on its borders, the DG, ISPR said:

Yes, we have heard reports and various articles that have been written on that. As already stated, so far there is no credible information claiming that Osama Bin Laden or his supporters have entered Pakistan. However, we have beefed up security on the borders. And when I say beefed up, I am saying in addition to what we have done earlier. There have been movement of regular army troops in substantial number, especially in the areas opposite to Tora Bora as well as Chamman side. There are regular army troops being deployed, in addition to what we moved earlier. There is also increased surveillance. We are utilizing all assets, which means vehicular, manpower as well as helicopters for increased surveillance. All that needed to be done, has been done. There are even armed helicopters that will be surveiling the area.

* To a question that a network of tunnels in Tora Bora were connected to the tribal Areas of Pakistan and whether the areas were being patrolled as Osama might attempt to escape through this route, the DG, ISPR said:

Any one who enters a tunnel has to exit. Helicopters do not go inside tunnels. I don’t think there is any such tunnel which goes through a mountain or a mountain range which starts from one end reaches the other end. However, all exits, all areas that could be used for infiltration of forces or movement, especially where these areas converge, are being monitored and we will continue it to ensure that no such thing happens.

* To a question that despite Government’s denials to the contrary, certain foreign media reports still maintain that Osama and Mullah Omar were in Pakistan and the latter’s family had been sighted in Chamman whether he construed it as a conspiracy against Pakistan, the DG, ISPR said:

I don’t want to comment on intentions. But if there are certain apprehensions, I would like to allay those as I have done many times before. Each time there is a further information that is given, which by the way, has even been denied by the briefings in the Pentagon. Initially, there was a report that the area of Tora Bora has been either cleared or captured but yesterday, if you noticed, General Tommy Franks of the United States said, no, it is not true, and we also had heard later that they just got to the lower levels, they have not been able to clear Tora Bora area completely. So, therefore, there are news items and there are contradictions. What I am saying now, we have taken all precautions. We have taken additional precautions recently and in the past few days, of which I have just spoken about. The comments that you made that some family members have been seen in Chaman, I don’t think that is correct. But what we have said that whoever tries to come across the Afghan-Pakistan border, and if he is not legally allowed to enter, if he does through some routes he will be taken into custody. Investigation and interrogation will be held and according to what he merits, action will be taken against him according to law.

* To a question with regard to the status of Mullah Zaeef in Pakistan, the Spokesman said:

After the termination of diplomatic relations, the Geneva Conventions provide for a reasonable time to be given to diplomats who had been posted in the country, to wind up their affairs and go back. So, that reasonable time was given to him. We have not yet determined exactly what the length of that time would be. We just informed him to wind up his affairs in a reasonable period of time. We will approach him again to check whether he had wound up. You see, there are children going to school, the school term is also involved, and there are several other factors of humanitarian nature which are involved. So we will keep those in consideration as well.

* To a supplementary, the Spokesman clarified:

I was talking about the Afghan leaders who had taken refuge in Pakistan. This is slightly a separate issue. This is not a question of taking refuge. Mullah Zaeef was here as a diplomat. The case will be reviewed and a decision will be taken accordingly.

* Asked whether Mullah Zaeef had requested for asylum, the Spokesman replied in the negative.

* To a number of questions as to what action would be taken against those foreign journalists who were involved in a malicious campaign against Pakistan and whether they had been planted by the CIA, the DG, ISPR said:

One needs to be very specific who are we talking about. Frankly, I am not aware of CIA agents in the form of journalists in Pakistan. Maybe I am ill-informed. I don’t think there has been anyone who has very definitely said that Osama Bin Laden has entered Pakistan. There have been people who speculated it. It is unfortunate. We frankly give a lot of leverage to misunderstandings and misperceptions. We continue to do that. We believe in total freedom of press in Pakistan and our track record during the last two years stands witness to it. However, one does note if there are certain stories that continue to circulate in Pakistan. But we have not come to the conclusion that it is a part of a deliberate or malicious campaign to hurt Pakistan. Maybe there are some misperception or wrong information, which we try to clarify in our press briefings here.

* When asked as to what particular role Pakistan had played in Bonn for which it was even praised by the US, the Spokesman said that it was by giving the United Nations team our unstinted support.

* Asked to comment on a report that 156 Pakistanis captured in Afghanistan had been handed over to India by the Northern Alliance, and on the purpose of Saif el-Islam Qaddafi’s visit to Pakistan, the Spokesman stated:

As for your first question, we have not heard any such reports. As for your second question, yes, he is here in Pakistan, at the moment holding meetings. He has brought a message from Col. Qaddafi for the President. He will be meeting other officials as well. Once those meetings are over, we would be issuing a detailed press release.

* When asked about the New York Times report that senior Pakistani intelligence officers had admitted supplying arms shipment to Taliban till late October, the DG ISPR contradicted the report and said:

These reports are absolutely false and incorrect. I cannot imagine any intelligence official or anyone else, who has any knowledge of what has been happening here, could have ever made such statements. In fact, it is all part of malicious propaganda that has been circulating not only in Pakistan but abroad as well, and carried by various newspapers, which is absolutely false and incorrect. There have been people here and I can name some foreign journalists and teams, who by the way have inspected, if I may say so, trucks that have been moving with humanitarian aid from Pakistan to Afghanistan. And we are aware that they have done it at random as an attempt to find out if there are any arms shipments. There is no question at all.

Let me add, that the Soviet Union was in occupation of Afghanistan, and also the Western world, which were providing arms and equipment to the anti-Soviet forces, or the Afghans who were fighting against the occupation forces of the Soviet Union. They gave so much arms and equipment that even before 11th of September, and before the bombing started, there were huge enormous dumps of arms, equipment and ammunition that was brought in by the Soviets and the Western world, dumped inside Afghanistan, available to either Northern Alliance or to the Taliban. There were surplus of that. In fact, they can export to various countries. They do not need arms, ammunition or equipment at all. There were greased tanks and helicopters. All of Russian make. Pakistan does not have Russian equipment. India does. If there is any equipment or ammunition or arms that have gone to Afghanistan from outside Afghanistan, it could be from India, not from Pakistan. It is very easy to find that out.

* To a question whether the Government was contemplating action against Christina Lamb in view of her law suit against those who had exposed her design to book a seat in O.B.Laden’s name, the DG, ISPR said:

I am quite aware that sometime ago one foreign journalist had tried to book a seat from Quetta to Islamabad and they filled in a form with the name O.B.Laden. When they were asked why they did that. They turned around and said it was a joke. Although we did not consider that a joke, and let me add here that if today that ticket had been issued, there could have been people saying "don’t look for Osama Bin Laden in Tora Bora, look for him in Islamabad." So, therefore, yes, it was a very serious act or mistake, if you would like to call it, the person involved was deported and it is something that we take very seriously.

* To a question regarding the current status of the detained nuclear scientists, the DG, ISPR said:

To a similar question few days ago I had promised to get more details on the subject for your. Frankly, we have not been afforded further details after the latest detention of these two scientists. I will try and get whatever I can about them.

* To a related question whether the Government had apprehended more people in this connection, the DG, ISPR said:

They are not scientists. These are 5/6 people who were part of the governing body of this NGO, they were running. They have been detained for questioning.

* When asked to give details of the Iftar dinner the President had hosted for the political leaders of Pakistan, the DG, ISPR said:

It was a get-together of Muslim Ambassadors to Pakistan which also included leaders of some Political parties. They were invited for Iftar and dinner. There was formal exchange of views, which I guess, is carried on all such occasions. There was no particular agenda or no particular discussion.

* When asked to clarify certain conflicting reports regarding the situation in Kandahar, the Spokesman said:

Well, our source of information is also the same conflicting reports that you hear. We do not have any other means of verification of facts on ground. So, we really cannot enlighten you any better than what you already know.

* When asked to give the estimated number of Pakistani troops deployed at the Pak-Afghan border, the DG, ISPR said:

They are substantial, they are enough to do the job. I cannot go into details on the number and the areas of deployment for obvious reasons. But a substantial number of troops have been deployed.

* To a question whether enough troops were deployed to block possible infiltration by Al Qaeda or other elements into Pakistan, the DG, ISPR said:

Yes, that is exactly what was evaluated and that’s why I said that a substantial number of troops have been deployed. In addition to these, there is greatly increased surveillance, mobile from the air as well as on the ground. So, it is not just deployment of troops or additional beefing up of the border, there is also a substantial increase in the surveillance from the air and from the ground in the last few days.

* To a question about the cost of additional deployment of troops and who would be paying that, whether the US, the DG ISPR said:

I will have to have that worked out. Frankly, I have not done that. I am not aware of how much it will cost but there is assistance from the coalition forces. We are working on this together, as we do consult each other on all other issues. But I am not aware actually what it is going to be cost.

Source: http://www.forisb.org/FOS01-81.htm

Pakistan welcomes the agreement reached in Kandahar among the Afghan groups to end hostilities

Pakistan welcomes the agreement reached in Kandahar among the Afghan groups to end hostilities. This will greatly help in the implementation of the Bonn Agreement and the establishment of durable peace in Afghanistan. We hope that all Afghan people will devote their energies for the successful implementation of the Bonn agreement as well as for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of their war ravaged country. The Government and people of Pakistan fully support the endeavours of their Afghan brothers in this regard.

Islamabad,

7 December 2001.

Government of Pakistan extends its felicitations to the Afghan people and the UN on the agreement signed in Bonn....5 Dec 2001

The Government of Pakistan extends its felicitations to the Afghan people and the UN on the agreement signed in Bonn establishing an Interim Authority in Afghanistan. We hope that this step would usher in an era of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Pakistan will continue to extend full support and assistance to the UN mediated political process for the restoration of durable peace in Afghanistan. We have faith in the wisdom of the Afghan people and believe that the new Interim Authority would establish the foundation of a stable, prosperous Afghanistan which is friendly to all its neighbours.

Islamabad,

5 December 2001.

Source: http://www.forisb.org/PR01-241.htm

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN 4 DECEMBER 2001

Statements

We are meeting after a gap of a few days. As you might have heard, there has been some success at the Bonn meeting.

On Afghanistan

The Government of Pakistan felicitates United Nations Secretary General and his Special Representative Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, on the reports of the successful conclusion of an agreement among Afghan leaders on the establishment of an interim authority. We hope that the Bonn meeting will also agree on the composition of the interim Administration. Mutual accommodation among Afghan leaders is necessary for peace and stability, and for return of normalcy after two decades of conflict and strife. With the world community ready to provide generous assistance for humanitarian relief and reconstruction of Afghanistan, this is a propitious moment for an end to the travails of the Afghan people. Pakistan too has borne heavy economic and social costs as a result of the conflict in Afghanistan, over the past two decades. The provision of asylum to over three million refugees, has resulted in consequential environmental damage, proliferation of weapons, narcotics trafficking, smuggling and terrorist crimes. Despite its own economic constraints, Pakistan will join the world community and contribute to the international programmes for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan.

On Palestine

The Government of Pakistan condemns Israeli strikes of 3rd December against Palestinian installations and administrative structures in Gaza and the West Bank, particularly attacks targeting President Yasser Arafat’s heliport, destroying two helicopters and damaging his nearby residence. The subsequent attacks by Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles against Palestinian offices and a police building in Jenin and occupation of Palestinian controlled areas in the West Bank, including Gaza, airport has further escalated tension. The latest military action is a part of deliberate Israeli policy of undermining the Palestinian Authority and its administrative structure. Pakistan reiterates the urgent need for restraint and the resumption of peace negotiation, hopes for which were revived by the recent initiative of the US Secretary of State. Besides that, I have a brief announcement also to make, and that is that OIC Secretary General Mr. Belkaziz will be arriving tomorrow. He will be holding talks with the Foreign Minister and would also call on the President. The talks would cover the Afghanistan issue, the situation in Kashmir and the Palestinian situation. This is the first visit by the present Secretary General of the OIC to Pakistan. There was also a question about some British commandos having crossed over into Baluchistan. Somebody had asked me last time and I had promised that I would check and get back to you, which I did. I would like to inform you, I have checked those reports and those reports were totally baseless.

QUESTION - ANSWER SESSION:

The following issues were discussed during the question-answer session:

* When asked to comment that Pakistan has condemned the Israeli attack on innocent Palestinians, whereas Pakistan has never condemned the bombing on innocent Afghani people, the Spokesman said:

We have spoken on the subject before also, and we have said that Pakistan regrets the loss of life, and we are very sorry that it has been happening. I think the two things cannot really be compared. This is a damage as a consequence of an action which is being taken in pursuance of a United Nations Security Council Resolution. The innocent loss of life is regretted, has been regretted in the past. That is why we have also maintained that the military action should be as short as possible. We have been given the assurance that this damage is accidental and that there is every attempt to avoid innocent loss of life.

* To a question about the comments of former Israeli Prime Minister to CNN that the American bombings as well as Israeli bombings were justified, the Spokesman said:

Well, we have spoken on this subject. I think, I have given enough explanation on that. Let us move on to another question.

* When asked to explain the issuance of visa to an American citizen by the Pakistan Embassy in Yemen who was subsequently captured in Mazar-e-Sharif and the possibility of nuclear weapons, may be in possession of Osama Bin Laden, there are reports to that effect, coming out of Afghanistan into Pakistan and whether Pakistan was closely monitoring its borders, the Spokesman said:

For your first question, I will have to check when that visa was issued, under what circumstances was that visa issued. I can only conjecture that perhaps a tourist visa was issued, I mean, a lot of Americans visit Pakistan, we try to promote tourism to Pakistan.

* When told that three months visa was issued in October 2000, the Spokesman said:

That is normally a visa that is issued to visitors or tourists. So it must have been that. As I said, I will have to check on that and then I can give you the details. As far as your second question is concerned, all I can say is that as far as the nuclear safety record of Pakistan is concerned, it is impeccable. Since the start of nuclear programme for the generation of electricity, more than two decades ago, Pakistan’s safety record has been absolutely impeccable. So there is no question of anything having leaked outside anywhere. As far as inspection of cargo is concerned, we exercise as much vigilance as is possible. Obviously, a lot of fruit etc. comes from Afghanistan and lot of wheat and other food items, truck loads, go from here. So if you are trying to ask whether each and every grain is inspected, obviously it is not possible. But at the same time, the kind of hypothetical insinuation that is embodied in the question, I think, there is very remote possibility of that. I don’t think it would be possible but again, as for your reports, I can get further information and get back to you on that.

* When his attention was drawn to certain statements attributing to the coalition regarding attack on other Muslim countries including Iraq, the Spokesman said:

First of all, I do not think that there is any such intention that has been concretely exhibited. We are not in favour of that. We are with the coalition as far as fighting terrorism is concerned, but there are other means rather than military means also. Even in Afghanistan, as you know, we have maintained that the military campaign should be as short as possible and as targeted as possible.

* When asked if Pakistan has received any suggestion from President Yassar Arafat for holding an OIC meeting, the Spokesman said:

So far we have not. Certainly, when we receive that suggestion we will examine it, and the subject may be discussed tomorrow when the Secretary General of the OIC is here, then we can give you further information on that.

* When asked about Pakistan’s position pertaining to the killings of prisoners in Mazar-e-Sharif, the Spokesman said:

Well, we have also, if you recall, requested the United Nations and ICRC to find out the facts of the position, and particularly as far as reports that there were Pakistanis also, who may have been killed in that action. We have asked about the names of those who might have been killed in the operations. You know, it is very difficult to collect information in this regard. Difficulty would also be , if I can hazard a guess, and that would be that, there would not be any documents on the people and on the bodies. So there are difficulties involved. But I think, they are at it.

* To a question whether Pakistan was supplementing the Coalition’s efforts to apprehend Osama Bin Laden, the Spokesman said:

We told you that Pakistan is not involved in any operation inside Afghanistan.

* When asked to highlight the government’s policy being formulated visa-vis the Madaris (religious schools), the Spokesman said:

I can only speak on that once something has been prepared. Before that, it would be difficult for me. You must have seen the reports, the discussions are going on and something when it is finalized, will be announced to the public.

* To a question if Pakistan was demanding investigation into the killings of Pakistanis at Mazar-e-Sharif, the Spokesman said:

I said, just a while ago, that we have approached both ICRC and the United Nations in this regard to provide us more information about the incident, as well as a list of Pakistanis, if they can verify that there were Pakistanis, who were also killed in the operation.

* Asked about the Government’s reaction to the proposed international force for Afghanistan and whether the force will be deployed in the entire country, the Spokesman said:

You may recall, that right from the start, we have been asking for a multi-national force and we have said that presence of multi-national force, particularly in Kabul which is the capital city and where the seat of the government would be, that a multi-national force, demilitarization of Kabul and the placing of a multi-national force, would greatly help the functioning of the interim administration that is going to be placed there. This particular decision, which we hope will be finally signed very soon, this agreement, is completely in line with what we have also been recommending in the past. As far as your question of placing of force in the entire country is concerned, you know, that there is heavy expenditure involved, but at least in the capital if that force is deployed and the capital is demilitarized, already it would have very beneficial affect on the running of the Administration and peace in general in Afghanistan.

* To a question as to how many Pakistanis and Afghans had been apprehended at the Pak-Afghan border till now, the Spokesman said:

I will have to check on that because I do not know the number. As you know, we have sealed our border. We are trying to control our border as much as possible. Extra security measures have been taken also. We have given you the details of those extra security measures. Even, from among the refugees, only the extreme humanitarian cases are being allowed. We cannot have further influx of refugees. So the border is pretty well controlled. But how many arrests there have been I cannot readily give you the number, but I will check on that and get back to you.

Source: http://www.forisb.org/FOS01-79.htm

"Pakistan's importance in relation to Afghanistan is a matter of geography, which cannot be changed…Both the objectives of Pakistan have been met when the conference started at Bonn and in the initial round Afghans agreed for a broad-based transitional government in Kabul…There should be no fears and apprehensions in the mind of any Pakistani, as we will have to have confidence in our strength, in our nation, in our people, in our geo-strategic location and in our resources, etc…Pakistan has seized the opportunity, as all of its economic, political and military interests are well looked after and the opportunity has been seized in a way to maximise the national interest…The position is such that Pakistan and Afghanistan relations will further be enhanced by centuries-old fraternal bonds, which will remain as there is no need to be worried about Northern Alliance."

• President Pervez Musharraf, Islamabad, November 28

"If Mr Rabbani wants to come here as leader of the Northern Alliance, he will be most welcome…I cannot comment when President Musharraf and Mr Rabbani will meet. If he wants to come here as leader of the Northern Alliance, he will be most welcome…We have extended friendship and cooperation to all Afghans as well as the three million Afghan refugees who live here…At the moment efforts for establishment of durable peace in Afghanistan and a broad-based and multi-ethnic government have started at Bonn. We support the UN process as all Afghans are party to these discussions. Results which emerge should be acceptable to all Afghans and as far as Pakistan is concerned once something in the form of a provisional and permanent arrangement acceptable to all Afghans emerges, this will be acceptable to us also."

• Aziz Khan, Foreign Office Spokesperson, November 28

"The investigations are being carried out by the Pakistanis and information is being shared if it is of any value…These two scientists are under detention but there has been no linkage either with anthrax-related capabilities or biological weapons. I am not privy as to what stage the investigations are at right now. There has been certain violations of rules in which some statements have been made."

• Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi, Spokesperson, November 28

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN AND THE D.G. ISPR - 28 NOVEMBER 2001

No opening statement was issued.

QUESTION - ANSWER SESSION:

* When asked to comment on a report that Iran was going to be a nuclear the nuclear power and that scientist Dr. A.Q.Khan had visited Iran secretly, the Spokesman said:

Dr. A.Q.Khan has never in his life visited Iran, even as a tourist.

* When asked to comment on the New York Times story that the detained Pakistanis scientists were linked with Anthrax related capabilities and biological weapons, the DG, ISPR said:

Like I said yesterday, these two scientists are under detention. Investigations are going on. There is no linkage established at all with any Anthrax related capability that you are talking about, between these scientists and that. And frankly at what stage is the investigation, and what has been the findings of this investigation, I am not privy to it. So I don’t think I can answer rest of your question.

* When asked to explain the type of detention, the DG, ISPR said:

I do not know , I am not privy to the exact details. But what I said yesterday is exactly what happened they were called for questioning originally, and then they were released. They were called in for questioning again and then, I think, Dr. Bashiruddin had an angina problem, so he went to the hospital. He was in the hospital for a few days, after which, once he recovered from that angina pain he was called in for questioning again. Now this sort of investigation or questioning is continuing. I do understand that now, he is under detention and there are certain violations of the rules, frankly, that even retired scientists are supposed to observe which includes, you know, prevention from making certain statements which have been made by these people, as also may be traveling, beyond that, I am not privy to any other information.

* When asked whether they were staying in a house in Kabul in the diplomatic compound, the DG, ISPR said:

No, frankly I don’t know. However, now that you have mentioned, I have seen this report also. I shall try to get further information about what you said, and if that is available and is to be given out, I will give it out.

* When asked if these scientists were interviewed by the US Intelligence and also to give background of the statements made by them, the DG, ISPR said:

No, whatever I had to give I said. However, as far as being interviewed by United States officials, I do know that the investigation and questioning that is being carried out, is being carried out by Pakistani officials. I am quite sure that information is being shared, if it is of any value.

* When asked to comment on the facts sheet issued by the Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League in which he has claimed that the Government has compromised its nuclear assets, the DG, ISPR said:

All I can say at this stage is that I think, what he has exhibited is total ignorance about these aspects. Beyond that, I don’t think there is anything that needs to be said.

* Asked if the Government was contemplating any measures with regard to its citizens stranded/killed in Afghanistan, the Spokesman said:

We have spoken about this on previous occasions also when this question was raised. You see, there are reports that some Pakistani nationals are among those who have been captured, or who have surrendered and laid down arms. We have asked the United Nations and the ICRC, first to verify their numbers, where they are, ascertain their national status, whether they are Pakistanis or not. It will take a little while and once that has been done and if they are handed over to us, they will be treated under the Pakistani law.

* When asked to elaborate on the reported negotiations between Pakistan delegation and Professor Rabbani, the Spokesman said:

I denied about the negotiations. Yesterday, if you recall the question was whether a delegation has gone to Kabul, whether a delegation has held meeting, whether meetings have been held and I had said, no. And I also said that we are in contact with the Northern Alliance and with other groups. The contact is there, yes, and that is about it. There was a meeting but no further details about that meeting.

* When asked to comment on the offer of friendship to Pakistan by Prof. Rabbani and whether President Musharraf was planning to reciprocate those gestures, the Spokesman said:

As I had said earlier, on an earlier occasion also, we have held meetings with all Afghan factions in the past. We have been meeting them, including Professor Rabbani. If you recall Professor Rabbani, I think it was 97-98 that he visited Pakistan twice at that time. We have always welcomed contacts with all Afghan groups. If Professor Rabbani wishes to come to Pakistan, as a leader of Northern Alliance, he is most welcome. We are in contact with all other Afghan leaders as well. He has lived in Pakistan for over a decade. He is a very familiar personality here. He is an important leader of an Afghan faction and group. He is certainly most welcome to visit Pakistan as are other leaders welcome to come and visit Pakistan, and meet us. We have always also extended our friendship and cooperation to all Afghans, including the three million Afghans that are resident in Pakistan as refugees and otherwise.

* Asked if it would be a prudent course to hold talks with the Northern Alliance known for their pro-India, pro-Russian leanings, the Spokesman said:

You see, at the moment the efforts are on for the establishment of durable peace in Afghanistan and the formation of a broad-based, multi-ethnic representative government. The United Nations has started the meeting in Bonn, it got off to a good start yesterday. We support the UN process. We also support all efforts towards the formation of a broad-based government. We have maintained and we feel that all Afghans should be a party to those discussions, should be involved in those discussions and as a result of those discussions the result that emerges should be acceptable to all Afghans. It is for the Afghans themselves to decide what they wish to do. How much role they wish to give to which faction and which entity. As far as Pakistan is concerned, once something, whether it is interim, transitional or a permanent political dispensation, as the talks progress, whatever is acceptable to the broad and large majority of Afghans would be acceptable to us.

* To a supplementary question that reportedly Pakistan was not satisfied with the Pakhtoon representation in Bonn talks, the Spokesman continued:

Our position has been that the representation in any future government should be reflective of the demographic realities of Afghanistan, as well as acceptable to all Afghans. We have seen over the past decade that this particular aspect, not being strictly observed, gave rise to a civil war in the country was devastated, that is whatever was left of Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion. The point is for the Afghans to be satisfied. If the Afghans are satisfied with the results of that meeting, as the representation of that meeting is concerned, Pakistan is satisfied also.

* Asked if Pakistan Army was planning to cross the border to help the US Marines in Kandhar, the DG, ISPR said:

I think, it is extremely clear what assistance Pakistan is giving and what has been asked from Pakistan, and if you remember or recall that President Musharraf initially said, that Pakistan is not and will not be involved in any offensive operations across the border.

* Asked whether the Government had been able to ascertain the exact number of Pakistanis in Afghanistan, the Spokesman said:

You see, Pakistan’s policy has been to effectively control the border and not allow any unauthorized people to go across the border. Now having said that, we all know, that the border is long over 2000 kilometers and difficult to completely and effectively seal. People from here and there have been going across. For us to ascertain the number is very difficult. We have no way of finding out how many there are. That is why we have asked the United Nations as well as the ICRC. We do not have any presence inside Afghanistan. Our Embassy personnel and the Consulate personnel were withdrawn. So the only means that we can depend on would be the ICRC and the United Nations, and we understand that once all these people who have surrendered and ICRC will have access to them and will determine the nationalities of various groups and people, and we hope at that particular time we will come to know exactly what their number is.

* To a question whether the Government has any plans to send aircraft to Afghanistan to evacuate the Pakistani nationals, the DG, ISPR said:

I think, I need to elaborately answer this. It is very unfortunate that very responsible channels and newspapers have been reporting such news. Whether it was false or it was regarding recently, sending of aircraft or helicopters. It is absolutely false and I would like to reiterate this, I have tried to find out how this news comes to be reflected in certain newspapers in the United States, and on channels like FOX and CNN here. It originated, and all of it, unfortunately, originates from New Delhi, from India, where an article written in a newspaper was published. One is not surprised why the Indians are doing this. They have been trying for the last two and a half months, over two months now, whereby they want to implicate, by some way or the other, Pakistan as having either supplied weapons, ammunition or personnel to Afghanistan, which is absolutely false, and time and again, you read in the newspapers articles saying that Pakistan’s military men have been operating inside Afghanistan, which is totally false, devoid of any truth whatsoever. This then is carried by some newspaper, I am sure, through dubious means in the United States, from there it is picked up and people quote someone from the Northern Alliance, who are, let me again say, have been advised by Indian advisors for quite sometime, their presence is there and is then projected on the electronic media. It is very very unfortunate. There is no truth in that and I am surprised, why the people who are responsible people, do not sack such reporters who report total falsehood. There is no question of any military presence or any presence that Pakistan has tried to get out of Afghanistan. If you see the distance between Pakistan and where they say the helicopters went and brought out people, it is impossible for a helicopter to travel such a distance and come back without being detected.

The Spokesman added:

If I may just add that for the last 3 years or more, I have been hearing that Northern Alliance has been claiming that they have captured, they have Pakistani military personnel as prisoners and they have never ever been able to produce a single one. When I was Ambassador there and we even asked them that if we can have consular access to them. These all are fabricated stories just meant as allegations and slander against Pakistan.

* To a related question, the DG, ISPR said:

If people are telling lies time and again, I think action needs to be taken. You may have a different point of view but that is what I wanted to say.

The Spokesman added:

The point is, you see, there are certain stories which appear so preposterous and still they find currency. That is what surprises one, because under the present situation with the kind of presence of surveillance that is going on, for Pakistani helicopters or aircraft to travel undetected go pick up people and come back, is just not possible.

* To a question the Spokesman stated that Ambassador Arif Ayub was representing Pakistan as an Observer in the Bonn talks.

* To a question about unprovoked firing on the LoC by India, the DG, ISPR said:

There is little difference in the fact you are quoting. The Indian army yesterday did resort to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing in the Rawala Kot sector in Azad Kashmir. Three persons, including a minor boy embraced Shahadat, 20 were injured, out of which 7 were women, the condition of six of these injured is precarious. This is what happened yesterday at 4-30. Firing that was conducted by the Indians included heavy Mortars, field artillery, heavy machine guns and other rifles and small arms. This was totally unprovoked. The Indians have been doing this for quite some time now, is been over a month and a half. Pakistan army is under orders to retaliate once fired upon. We do not initiate fire. We exercise maximum control and only retaliate once fired upon. These weapons that the Indians use concentrated on civilian huts and villages.

Source: http://www.forisb.org/FOS01-77.htm

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN AND THE D.G. ISPR - 27 NOVEMBER 2001

No opening statement was issued.

QUESTION - ANSWER SESSION:

The following issues were discussed during the question-answer session:

* Asked to comment on a statement by Benazir Bhutto in India that there was link between Lashkar-e-Tayba and the Al-Qaeda network, the DG, ISPR said:

First of all, I have no knowledge of what you just said that former Prime Minister has said there are links of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba with Al-Qaeda. I have no knowledge of that. However, whatever is going on inside Indian Occupied Kashmir is a freedom movement. There are organizations that are formed from within the Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir. That are fighting for their right of self-determination which has been guaranteed to them by the United Nations Security Council resolution, which is still in force, and there is no possibility or no connection whatsoever between what is happening inside Indian Occupied Kashmir and any other terrorist activity anywhere in the world. So, we are very clear on that and let me tell you, most world leaders that President Musharraf has interacted with, there is no doubt there.

* Asked about the mode of trial in case Osama or Al Qaeda members were apprehended in Pakistan, the DG, ISPR said:

What he said yesterday was that there was a remote possibility that people might come. What he said originally that according to his information there is no presence of this man or anyone else related to Al-Qaeda inside Pakistan. What he said was that in the remotest possibility if he does try to enter Pakistan, he would be proceeded against according to the law. When you say he will be arrested or he will be tried, yes, I think the United Nations and the coalition forces are in the process of determining as to how to proceed against people who are alleged to be involved in terrorist related activity. I do not think they made up their mind as yet as to who will try them.

* To a related question, the Spokesman added:

There are UN Security Council resolutions with regard to terrorism also, and the action that is being undertaken is under those resolutions. At the same time, normally such cases are tried where the crime is committed. So one presumes, once he is apprehended, it will decided where the trial will take place and how that trial will take place, but since there is a coalition united against fighting terrorism, it will be a decision jointly arrived at.

* To a question about the fate of those Pakistanis returning from Afghanistan and whether they would be allowed to bring in their weapons, the Spokesman said:

This question has been raised several times before also. We have said that all those Pakistanis who return, first of all, you know, nobody can return with their weapons, number two, they will be apprehended and they will be tried under law.

* When asked to comment on Benazir Bhutto’s statement that she had been forced to go into exile and that her government was toppled by the Jehadis in the army, the DG, ISPR said:

Yesterday, I think, I addressed the question. She was making statements in her individual capacity and I said, most of them do not need to be answered. However, I would like to clear here that the Government of Pakistan has not sent her into exile. She ran away from the country because there were legal cases against her. And whenever she comes back, or she wants to come back she will face the law, she will face the court. That is the position of the Government of Pakistan. As to she has been appealing to the President, I do not think there is any truth in that. I have not seen any appeal addressed to the President.

The Spokesman intervened: Dismissal of her government was done under the Constitution by the constitutionally elected President, if you recall.

The DG, ISPR continued: The point is, everyone is very clear. The masses in Pakistan, the 140 million people of Pakistan, are very clear as to what she had done when she was here. As to the circumstances of her removal, I don’t think, even answering this, which amount to some sort of credence to her allegation, is required.

* When asked to inform if there were any contacts between the Government and Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani and whether the Government was planning to recognize the incumbent Government in Afghanistan, the Spokesman said:

For the moment, no delegation of Northern Al