No transit trade rights to India: FO

Islamabad, May 15: Pakistan on Thursday said it had not granted any transit rights to India for its trade goods as it was against the national interests.

“Under the MoU signed in Washington, Pakistan and Afghanistan have only undertaken to conclude a trade agreement by the end of the year. The details have yet to be finalized and Pakistan will not agree to any provision or arrangement that is not in its national interests,” said the Foreign Office spokesman, Abdul Basit addressing his weekly press briefing.

“Pakistan is cognizant of its interests and knows how to protect them,” he said.
To a volley of questions about media reports that Pakistan was seeking drone technology from the United States, he said, “The matter is still under consideration.”

He said that so far the US had not taken any decision to provide drone technology to Pakistan.

He said that detailed discussions were held during President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to the US with regard to acquisition of US aid. He added that the US had talked of transparent utilization of its aid and concrete outcome of war against terrorism.

When asked about Indian refusal of visas to Pakistani journalists interested in visiting the neighbouring state to cover elections, he said Pakistan believed that such interaction between the two peoples and especially media was important to enhance understanding.

To another query he said Pakistan had a clear stand on Kashmir that the core issue needed to be resolved in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiris.
When asked to comment on Bangladesh’s demand for apology from Pakistan over the alleged atrocities in 1971, Basit said that under the tripartite agreement signed by Pakistan, Bangladesh and India in April 1974, the issue stood settled.
www.nation.com.pk/ By: Shaiq Hussain