Pakistan dismisses 'concerns' over Gawadar port deal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Thursday said transferring management of Gawadar Port to China was a bilateral agreement and no country should have any objection on it.

India’s defence minister last week had expressed concern over Islamabad’s decision.

This was stated by the Spokesman Foreign Office Moazzam Ahmed Khan in his weekly briefing.

He said Palestinian President Mehmood Abbas will undertake an official visit of Pakistan on Saturday on the invitation of President Asif Ali Zardari and will hold talks with Pakistani leadership.

He said the Palestinian President would hold talks with the Pakistani leadership on matters of mutual interest.

On a question on reported North Korea's nuclear test, the Foreign Office spokesman said Pakistan does recognize every country's right to enhance its security but there are some obligations at international level that countries have to fulfill.

He said Pakistan has always supported a Nuclear Free Korean Peninsula and endorses six party talks to resolve the North Korea nuclear crisis.

Moazzam Ahmed Khan told a questioner that Pakistan has released some Taliban from its jails so far.

Regarding a question about the Ulema conference on Afghanistan issue, he said Pakistani government initiated and supported the idea but we are not trying to determine the agenda of it.

He said Pakistan hopes that Ulema from both sides will overcome their differences soon. He said Ulema Conference might be held on first or second week of next month.

Replying to another questioner the Foreign Office spokesman said there is no change in Pakistan's policy towards Kashmir.

He said Pakistan considers Kashmir a disputed territory and provides
diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris in their struggle against Indian occupation.

He said peace and stability is the in the interest of both countries and dialogue is the only way in resolving problems between the two countries.
He said we again call upon Indian government to stop the repressive measures on Kashmiris in the wake of execution of Afzal Guru.