Friday, May 16, 2008
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday it was the prerogative of only the Pakistan Army to carry out any operation on its soil.

In a weekly briefing, Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said no one had claimed the responsibility of the missile attack in Bajaur. "Nothing, therefore, could be said at present in terms of probe into the Bajaur attack."

There is no Pakistani prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay, he added. The FO spokesman said there was no proposal under discussion on the division of Kashmir and hoped that there would be progress on the core issue during the forthcoming round of Pakistan-India composite dialogue next week. "There are no negotiations on the division of Kashmir between India and Pakistan," he said in reply to a question.

"We are committed to the peace process and seek the peaceful resolution of all the issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," he added. He said the ministerial-level review of the fourth round of the Pakistan-India composite dialogue would be held here on May 21 between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

The spokesman said the talks would be held on peace and security including CMBs, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, terrorism and drug-trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation and promotion of friendly exchanges.

The spokesman said: "Pakistan desires to have friendly and good neighbourly relations with India, and a stable and prosperous South Asian region." Replying to a question regarding the statement of the Indian foreign affairs minister to discuss the issue of terrorism in the next meeting of foreign ministers, the spokesman said terrorism had already been included in the agenda for these talks.

The spokesman said Pakistan had already condemned the blasts in Jaipur and expressed sympathies with the victims of the blasts. Responding to another question, the spokesman said: "We have made progress in the CBMs with India." He added that there had been clear and visible progress in these talks.

He observed that relations between Pakistan and the US were based on firm foundations. There is no ambiguity over the assistance extended by the US, he said. About the relieving of the director general of the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, Dr Shireen Mazari, from her service, he said she remained the DG ISSI for eight years and quit her office on the expiry of her term of contract. She has not been removed from her office, he said.

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=14728