Border incursion to be considered attack: FO
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan strongly rejecting the CIA chief Gen Michael Hayden statement has declared that only Pakistani Army and security organizations would have any rights to carry operations within its borders Spokesman Foreign Office Muhammad Sadiq in his weekly press briefing rebutting the recent statement of CIA chief general Michael Hayden, termed it as their staple, and strongly held that any externally carried out operation would be considered as a direct attack on Pakistani interest and sovereignty.
The spokesman said, “All counter-terrorism measures inside Pakistan will be taken by our own security forces. We have also stressed repeatedly that if any country has any specific, actionable intelligence it should be communicated to us and our own security forces will take action based on that information.”
Referring to the recent statement of visiting Mehbooba Mufti, he said that the views propounded by her were her own and since she was here on the invitation of PAGWASH (organization), did not reflect the official policy or viewpoint, since Pakistan was firm on its Kashmir policy. He said that any decision of resumption of Pak-India peace talks has yet to be taken and would be implemented through diplomatic norms, while CBMs between both countries were also being enhanced.
He also condemned the statement of Indian advisor for National security, maintaining that brutalities in Kashmir were due to Indian occupation of that land, and reiterated Pakistan peaceful resolve and CBMs with India and Deliberating about the imprisoned Pakistani prisoners languishing in Indian jails he said that in light of exchange of fresh prisoners’ list it has been discovered that 53 Indian civilians and 436 fishermen were imprisoned in Pakistan, while the Indian jails hold 14 Pakistani civilians and 133 fishermen. That makes a total of 489 Indians and 147 Pakistanis behind each others bars.
He also lambasted the recent statement of Afghan minister for parliamentary affairs that during the Taliban regime, Pakistan buried its nuclear waste in Afghanistan’s mountainous provinces, since Pakistan had a very scientific and advanced system available, and could never be that irresponsible. While delivering the weekly briefing, the spokesman declared that foreign policy was the prerogative of Parliament and would be formulated within ground realities, reflecting the aspirations of the masses.
He also derided conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan’s closest friend and ally China through meddling in Tibetan affairs, and affirmed Pakistan’s decision to participate in forthcoming Olympic games. He also informed that a strong protest has been launched with the Danish government over blasphemous cartoons and movie against The Holy Prophet (PBUH), and disclosed that there was no Dutch ambassador in the Country for the past one and a half year.
Replying to a question, he informed that the missing Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan, Tariq Aziz has not yet been located, but efforts were well underway to locate him. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Pakistan would not allow any country to take action inside its territory.In an to a private television channel he said, “we cannot allow any other country to take action within our territory. This is the matter of our sovereignty and we cannot compromise on it”. He said, the features of new government’s policy vis a vis counter terrorism are very clear.
Referring to around 2,000-km Pak-Afghan border, he said both the may face some difficulties in maintaining check on irregular border crossers. The law enforcers from both the sides remain in constant contact with each other and share intelligence, he said. Pakistan is firmly committed that it will take action if there is an actionable information with its law enforcing and intelligence agencies, he said adding but this action would be taken by the country’s law enforcing agencies. The Minister said that new government will work hard for regional peace and stability. He said that regional cooperation is an important phenomena in the contemporary world for the mutual benefit of all the partners and the government is alive to this fact. Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that investment has deep linkage with the foreign policy in present world and of course the government will keep this dimension in serious focus.
Enhancement of economic relations with other countries is imperative, he said. The Foreign Minister said that foreign policy has also deep relations with the country’s defence. Pakistan has no aggressive designs against any country but at the same time it has to remain vigilant and ensure adequate defence capability.
A just settlement of Kashmir issue would be another focus of the country’s foreign policy, he said adding: “we would like a settlement of this longstanding issue through dialogue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people”. He said the process of composite dialogue is already going on and the government will re-start it from the point where it was. The Indian leadership has shown willingness for a visit of their foreign secretary in the near future to Pakistan and Indian FM will also make a visit here, he said.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to Geneva Masood Khan has strongly condemned the Dutch documentary distorting the message of Holy Quran, and said Europe should not allow such acts to spark violence.Addressing the 7th session of Human Rights Council here Tuesday, Ambassador Masood Khan said such acts of xenophobia and religious intolerance projected the terrorists as interpreters of Islam.
He said such blatant provocations aimed at sparking anger and violence, however Muslims across the world showed restraint.
He highlighted Islam’s immense sensitivity towards all faiths religions, places of worships and sacred icons. He referred to Quran’s message of oneness of humanity, pluralism and co-existence. Ambassador Khan appreciated the efforts of the Dutch government to stop the release of documentary and urged to initiate prosecution against the author of the documentary, under the Dutch law, for inciting hatred against Muslim in the Netherlands and around the world.