PM Pervez Asharf to visit Ajmer Sharif on Saturday

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf would pay a personal visit to India on Saturday on a personal visit, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Moazzam Khan said that the Prime Minister will visit the shrine of Muslim saint ‘Ajmer Sharif’.

Responding to questions at weekly press briefing the spokesman said that no talks are yet scheduled on the occasion with Indian leadership.

Sources say that the Prime Minister will be accompanied his family members during the day-long visit to the shrine at Rajasthan state.

President Asif Ali Zardari also visited the shrine last year. However, the Indian Prime Minister had invited him for a luncheon as there had been substantial increase in relations.

Mr Ashraf’s visit comes following escalations along the Line of Control (LoC), which divides the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region.

Both sides accused each other of the 2003 ceasefire violation. Cross-border clashes has killed four Pakistani soldiers and two Indian troops since January. Guns are now silent.

Asked to comment on Indian Prime Minister’s remarks that Pakistan was not doing enough against terrorism, he said Pakistan condemns terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations. He said it is a common threat and requires a common strategy and cooperation among all countries of the region.

As for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, he said Pakistan has repeatedly told India to provide proof that could stand scrutiny in the court of law as mere statements are not enough.

“Pakistan wants resolution of all issues with India through dialogue including the recent incident on the Line of Control”.  He said Pakistan has even gone to the extent of offering investigations under the mechanism of UN system.

About delay in granting the Most Favoured Nation status to India, the spokesman said Pakistan is committed to its decision in this regard but the two countries have to complete the required processes first.

To a question Khan said there was an understanding with the United States for initiation of case against former CIA agent Raymond Davis for killing two Pakistanis in the eastern Lahore in January 2011 but so far no such development was in his knowledge.

Asked to sum up five year foreign policy of the present Government, the spokesman said the focus had been on improving relations with regional countries including India and Afghanistan. He said it is also pertinent that the Government involved the Parliament in the formulation of the country’s foreign policy.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Mar 7 2013. 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.