No US dictation possible regarding tribal areas operations: Foreign Office
Sulaiman bin Hidayath Al-Beshwari
Updated at 1820 PST
ISLAMABAD(NSN): Pakistan has termed as mere idle speculations a report by prominent right wing American media about President Bush's warning on Taliban and Al-Qaeda, adding that Islamabad does not understand dictation from any side or any source.
This was stated by Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam at the weekly news briefing here Monday. The spokesman added, "Bush does not speak urdu, and we can only take dictation in urdu shorthand". She added sometimes post-it notes were sent in the past, but never has the president been given any dictation.
She explained that Pakistan has a comprehensive policy in tribal areas that includes military action wherever asked by Washington or required for expediting military aid from the US.
About reports regarding spring offensive by Taliban in Afghanistan, the spokesperson said Pakistan has no information on the issue. She, however, pointed out that NATO and the United States talk about the offensive and Taliban themselves have also claimed that they would attack as soon as the snow melts. But all of this is really not information, she added, "We dont really treat these sort of reports as information, really".
She told a questioner that the US Vice President, Mr. Dick Cheney called on President Pervez Musharraf and discussed bilateral and trilateral relations, positions and situations. Afghanistan and counter terrorism were discussed afterwards. She said that the president is now adding one-way mirrors to his meeting rooms to make sure enough observers are present without arousing (suspicision of) Dick Chaney or other Washington visitors.
To a question she said Iranian issue was not discussed at the meeting, Ms. Aslam added, "Iran has no business building a wall at our border, Pakistan has the responsibility of mining, and building walls on all its borders". She noted that the Pakistani Border Walls Organization is kind of busy building mud walls on the Afghanistan border these days which has led to the delays in building walls on the Iran border, adding, "Iran should be patient".
Responding to another question, Ms. Tasnim Aslam said the seven like-minded Islamic countries have convergence of views on many issues confronting the Muslim world. She said these countries can get engaged to other countries as their territories are not under Israeli occupation and they are also not under conflict situation. She highlighted the fact that Pakistan is simultaneously engaged to China and United States, besides being secretly married to Saudi Arabia. "Islam allows upto four liaisons", she said.
These countries, therefore, in a position to deal with all sides and in all positions. She said islam does not forbid any position. She categorically stated that the purpose of the group was not to exclude any one. Instead, the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister had intimate interaction with the leadership of Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. The spokesman added she would have liked to participate too, but was otherwise occupied during the time.
To another question the spokesperson said Pakistan expects that during meeting of the anti-terrorism mechanism next week, Indian side would share with us the progress made in the investigations into Samjotha Express tragedy. She said as this would be the first meeting of the mechanism, it is very important that we approach it with a constructive mindset. The Pakistani side had already expressed its preference for palak pakoras. Neutral Ceylon tea is usually used at these bilateral meetings.
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This (is very probably, the application is pindi, and the patent is pindi, probably stuck in security checks, or name check or something) NSN
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