Visit of American diplomats was on cards for sometime: FO

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE


ISLAMABAD, Mar 26 : The visit of two high profile US diplomats to Pakistan at this important time was already scheduled and the meetings and programmes were already fixed, said the Foreign Office on Wednesday. Spokesman for Foreign Office Muhammad Sadiq in his weekly briefing said, “The visit in March of these envoys was on the cards for sometime.”
He said suggestions were made about timing of the visit because of the political transition in the country. However, the US Deputy Secretary of State undertook the visit because his meetings and programmes were already fixed.
The spokesman said Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher held meetings with President Pervez Musharraf, Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Chief of Army, Foreign Secretary and were scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and a number of politicians.
He said bilateral relations, Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism and cooperation between the two countries in different fields were discussed during the meetings.
The spokesman said in the meeting with the Foreign Secretary, views were exchanged about Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue.
He said two rounds of the strategic dialogue had taken place since 2006 and the next round of talks will be held in June this year in Washington as the US side was interested in early holding of the third round.
Giving further details of the meeting with Foreign Secretary, the spokesman said the two sides also discussed regional issues, including status of composite dialogue and peace process with India and Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan.
Various aspects of bilateral relations especially Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and economic and defence cooperation were also discussed, he added.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said there is no link between ROZs and giving free movement to American forces in FATA.
The spokesman said Pakistan has a clear policy that all military actions on Pakistan’s territory will be taken by its armed forces while the military actions on the Afghan side of the border are the responsibility of ISAF, NATO and Afghan forces.
He said the main aim of the ROZs was alleviation of poverty through economic activities in the FATA and other economically deprived areas of NWFP and Baluchistan.
The products from ROZs will have tariff free access to the US market and the legislation for this purposes is being worked out, he added.
He said the US has committed $750 million for the development of FATA over next five years.
Replying to a question about any change in the foreign policy of the government, the spokesman said, “It is the prerogative of the government and the parliament to reframe the foreign policy.”
Replying to a question about Indian Prime Minister’s message to new Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and willingness to continue the peace process, the spokesman said Pakistan has already noted the message and working on it.
He said dates for next round of talks between Pakistan and India are being finalised.
Answering a question about increase in the number of asylum seekers from Pakistan in the world, the spokesman said they are economic migrants..