ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday welcomed the United Nations General Assembly resolution against the US drone strikes and said that it will continue to build international opinion against such attacks.
In her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Friday, the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that the UN resolution reflects the international public opinion and also speaks of legality and illegality of the use of drones.
The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s position on the drone attacks‚ saying these strikes violate sovereignty and cause collateral damage.
Tasnim Aslam said the next move is to approach the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva against drone attacks. She said that Pakistan will continue to build international opinion against drone attacks.
Earlier, the National Assembly also adopted a unanimous resolution appreciating the efforts of the government which resulted in the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly against the use of drones.
The resolution which was moved by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Chaudhry Birjees Tahir called upon the United States to immediately end drone attacks on Pakistani territory‚ which are against the international law.
Talking about the recent execution of the Jamaat-e-Islami senior leader in Bangladeshi, the foreign office spokesperson said that hanging of Abdul Qadir Mullah is an internal matter of Bangladesh and the resolution adopted by the Pakistani parliament in this regard is not interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh.
The spokesperson said that the resolution reflects the desire to move beyond the past and look towards future.
In reply to a question about Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project‚ the spokesperson said that the project is very much on the agenda. She said that there are some funds constraints but Pakistan is looking for various options to build the pipeline.
Tasnim Aslam denied the killing of Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq, saying that neither the Iraqi authorities nor the Pakistani Mission have confirmed the reports of the killing of three Pakistani pilgrims.
In reply to another question on the meeting between Director General Military Operations of Pakistan and India‚ she said that Pakistan had proposed the inclusion of civilian officials as well but the suggestion was rejected by India.
On the release of Mullah Baradar‚ the spokesperson said that the release was made at the request of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. She said the move was aimed at facilitating the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.
The FO spokesperson said that Pakistan had facilitated meeting between Mullah Baradar and Afghan High Peace Council as Islamabad desires peace‚ stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region.
On the visit of Turkish Prime Minister to Pakistan‚ she said that the two brotherly countries enjoy close and historic relations. She said that the two countries have convergence of opinion on various issues. She said that a number of MOUs would be signed between the two countries during the visit of the Turkish Prime Minister.
