Thursday, 9 June 2016
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Thursday, terming the May 21 drone strike as “unfortunate”, said the incident had damaged Pakistan’s trust relationship with the United States.
“The drone strike has not only violated our sovereignty, but also damaged the level of trust with the United States,” the Adviser said at a press conference held here at the Foreign Office.
Sartaj Aziz said the drone attack that killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansour had “undermined the Afghan peace process”, adding that the incident would have far-reaching impact.
He said Pakistan was unsure of the United States’ objective behind the strike, however said apparently it had “more negative [aspects] than positive”.
About the visit of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to the United States and his efforts for India’s inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Sartaj Aziz expressed the concern that tilt of US towards India would disturb regional strategic balance.
“We have been constantly reminding the United States to be mindful of maintaining security balance for peace in the region,” he said.
The Adviser dismissed the impression that Pakistan had initiated “belated foreign policy efforts” to mobilize support for Pakistan’s membership for NSG.
Instead, he said, Pakistan had been pursuing active diplomacy on the point that no non-NPT (Nuclear Proliferation Treaty) country should be given exception in applying for NSG membership.
When asked about the course of foreign policy to be taken with India following the arrest of its spy Kalbhushan Yadav, Aziz said Pakistan had a “mutual concern of terrorism” with India.
“They talk about our non-state actors, but we talk about their state-actors that are active in subversive activities in Balochistan, tribal areas and Karachi,” he said.
He mentioned that India’s statement, about non-involvement of Pakistan in the attack at Pathankot airbase, was a “good development” for Pakistan.
To a question about no permanent foreign minister appointed by the government, the Adviser on Foreign Affairs said it was not unprecedented in the history of Pakistan.
He gave the examples of the governments of prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Indian prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and even the first term of prime minister Nawaz Sharif, where no foreign minister was appointed.
Aziz said being the Adviser on Foreign Affairs, it did not matter much with the title and he was dealing with much more responsible role at present without feeling handicapped.