Pakistan Views

Caretaker Foreign Minister Inam-ul-Haq will attend the OIC foreign ministers’ meeting on February 3, in Jeddah to discuss Gaza crisis, foreign ministry spokesman told a press briefing. Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro will visit Yemen on Feb. 1-2 and Saudi Arabia on Feb. 3 to promote bilateral trade and boost economic relations, Foreign Ministry spokesman M. Sadiq told media in a weekly briefing at foreign office here. Replying a question, he said the president’s meeting with the Israeli defence minister was coincidental and not scheduled. The spokesman ruled out any ties with Israel until the Palestine issue peacefully resolved. Responding to another question the spokesman said over 350 visas of foreign observers have been processed. The arrangements being made for several foreign diplomats in Pakistan who also want to monitor the election process, he further said. Foreign office spokesman on a question vehemently denied the presence of any US troops in Pakistan. He said the government has warned against any foreign military action in Pakistani territory…saying that such a step would be considered an enemy attack…and will be fully resisted. There are no American troops in Pakistan, he said and added Americans have publicly offered to send troops if needed by Pakistan but “we have told them that we don’t need foreign troops.” He said Pakistan expects that specifications of Baglihar Dam would conform to those proposed by the neutral expert in its verdict.