Pakistan withdraws diplomatic staff from Syria over security concerns

Pakistan has decided to temporarily withdraw its Ambassador and staff from Syria due to deteriorating security situation, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

However, the embassy has not been closed, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Muazzam Khan said.

“Pakistan is concerned about security situation in Syria as well as killing of civilians and call upon all parties to resolve the issue through peaceful means,” he told the weekly press briefing.

The spokesman said Pakistan has shared dossier on the Pakistani Taliban leader, Maulvi Fazlullah, both with ISAF and Afghanistan and hoped that they would take action against him.

The military says that Fazalullah had fled to Afghanistan after the security forces conducted military operation in the northwestern Swat valley in 2009. Officials say that he has regrouped his fighters in Afghanistan border regions and launch attacks on Pakistani posts and villages.

The American Ambassador to Pakistan says that the coalition forces would take action against Fazlullah if Pakistan provided information about him.

Asked to comment on allegations of Afghan President that the last week attack on Afghan intelligence chief, Asadullah Khalid, was planned in Pakistan, the spokesman said Islamabad has already stated that it would welcome if any evidence is shared. “Pakistan has also repeatedly said that we will not allow anybody to use Pakistani territory against any other country”.

Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attack, which they said was a revenge for the execution of Taliban detainees.

Khan aid Pakistan has also repeatedly expressed its desire to work closely with Afghan government to address the issues of extremism and terrorism as they pose common challenge to the two countries.

The spokesman also pointed out that at the Afghan-Pakistan-Turkey trilateral meeting in Ankara on Wednesday, it was decided to establish a joint Commission to address this issue.

He told a questioner that the process of release of Afghan prisoners has begun to push the peace process forward.  “Some prisoners have been released and more are expected in future but no details can be shared”.

Replying to a question the spokesman said President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to visit Iran and the two countries are working on mutually convenient dates for the purpose. He dispelled impression that schedule visit of President was postponed due to any pressure.

About Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, he said “this concerns our national interests and we will pursue it”.

About Indian allegations regarding attack on parliament, the spokesman said Pakistan has repeatedly said that it is willing to sit together if they have any concrete information. He said the case of those, allegedly involved, are in the court and India should wait and see when the court completes its trial.

He expressed sympathies with Dr. Khalil Chishti who spent so many precious years of his life in Indian jails before justice was finally delivered.

The Indian Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that Chishti can go to Pakistan as he has spent enough time in Indian prison.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 13 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.