ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday rejected propaganda campaign against its nuclear program, saying that its civil nuclear program is under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
In her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that Pakistan has a declared nuclear weapon and civil nuclear programs.
“Pakistan’s civilian nuclear program is used for energy‚ medical‚ agriculture and other fields,” the spokesperson said.
Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud visit to Pakistan
The FO spokesperson said that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who is the Deputy Prime Minister and also holds the portfolio of Minister for Defence, will start a three-day visit to Pakistan from February 15 on the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Aslam said that a high level Saudi delegation will be accompanying him. She said both the countries will be discussing wide-ranging issues of matters including trade‚ defense and export of Pakistani manpower to Saudi Arabia.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will not discuss nuclear cooperation in the upcoming visit of Saudi Crown Prince,” the spokesperson categorically stated.
The spokesperson said that visit of the Crown Prince will provide good opportunity to explore ways and means for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest particularly in enhanced trade and investments.
To a question‚ the spokesperson said that as part of Pakistan’s defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia‚ Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif will call on the Crown Prince as he also holds the office of Saudi Defense Minister.
Aslam said that both the countries will also be deliberating on regional peace and situation.
Trade resumption between Pakistan, India through LoC
The Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan has decided to resume trade with India through the Line of Control (LoC) in the best interest of Kashmiris.
“Pakistan does not want to create any impediment in this regard and hopes for the same gesture from the other side,” she said.
The spokesperson said that the proposed meeting of working group on cross-LoC trade is likely to take in New Delhi shortly.
Pakistan-Afghan-Turkey Trilateral Summit in Ankara
Talking about the 8th Pakistan-Afghanistan-Turkey trilateral summit in Ankara, the FO spokesperson said that the summit, scheduled to start on Thursday, is as an important move in terms of its timing.
The theme of the three-day trilateral Summit is “Sustainable Peace in the Heart of Asia”, while it is taking place in the backdrop of important political and security transitions in Afghanistan including presidential and provincial council elections being held on April 5 this year and the draw-down of NATO forces by the end of 2014.
