ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Federal Minister for Commerce Engineer Khurram Dastagir on Wednesday said Pakistan highly valued its relations with Azerbaijan and was desirous of further strengthening them in various fields.
He said next year President of Azerbaijan will visit Pakistan and sign agreements to promote cooperation in different fields.
He was speaking at an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Azerbaijan.
He said Pakistan was working closely with Azerbaijan on different international forums including United Nations, adding Pakistan highly regarded the role of Azerbaijan in Contact Group on Kashmir.
He said both countries should further strengthen relations with other countries in different fields including commerce.
He said both countries could cooperate with each other in different projects including energy sector.
The minister said the government would encourage trade relations between the two countries and expand relations with the countries in the region.
He also appreciated help of Azerbaijan in tragedy of earthquake of 2005 and floods.
Speaking on the occasion, ambassador of Azerbaijan Ali Alizada said Azerbaijan would continue to support Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir.
He said relations with Pakistan were important for Azerbaijan and ties between the two countries were rooted in religion, history, and culture.
He said they supported Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir and the problem should be resolved according to resolutions of United Nations.
He thanked Pakistan for supporting the stance of Azerbaijan against the aggression of Armenia in the region of Nagorno Karabakh.
He lauded the visit of different ministers of Pakistan in recent years and said they wanted to promote ties in different fields including defence.
The ambassador said Azerbaijan will continue the ongoing cooperation in different fields.
Pakistan values relations with Azerbaijan: Khurram Dastgir
Pak France cooperation in archaeology augments knowledge of ancient Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): France and Pakistan have a long history of strong and continuous cooperation in the field of archaeology, dating back to the first field mission by a French archaeological team in 1958.
This was stated by Pakistan’s Ambassador in France while talking to Dr Aurore Didier, Head of French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin (MAFBI) who called on him at the Embassy of Pakistan, a message received here from Paris on Wednesday said.
The ambassador noted the important discoveries made by the French team in Balochistan and Sindh, which had greatly contributed to understanding of ancient culture and civilization in Pakistan.
Dr Aurore Didier said that NAFBI archaeological findings in Pakistan have brought significant data for better understanding the genesis and the technological development of centuries old Indus civilization and these data beared testimony to a very rich historical and cultural heritage of Pakistan.
Dr Didier also introduced three Pakistani M Phil/PhD students, who are currently on a study tour in Paris sponsored by the French government. They are learning new sophisticated archaeological and excavation techniques, study and management of archaeological collections from renowned French institutions.
The French archaeological mission in the Indus Basin was founded in 1958 and since then it has excavated major archaeological sites in Pakistan such as Amri in Sindh, Mehrgarh, Nindowari, Nausharo, Miri Qalat and Shahi Tump in Balochistan.
A special archaeological exhibition to work 60 years of MAFB is also being planned in the year, 2018.
PM takes notice of Abid Sher Ali’s statements
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has taken notice of Abid Sher Ali’s statements and asked him to refrain from issuing inappropriate statements,
a brief statement issued from the PM’s Media Wing here on Wednesday said.
US says Travel Warning against Pakistan a routine advisory, not based on specific threats
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (APP) — A US State Department Spokesman
Tuesday said the Travel Warning issued in October against Pakistan was a routine update to a warning and wasn’t based on any specific credible threat.
Responding to a question at the State Department briefing, Spokesman John Kirby told the questioner that the travel warning being referred to was issued on Oct.7 and was not based on specific credible threats, but was a routine update to a warning.
He confirmed that Pakistani authorities did raise the issue of travel
advisory with the US officials in Islamabad recently, saying that they welcome discussions on that.
The Spokesman said that Travel Warnings were not indicative of bilateral relations with any country, and were simply the government’s commitment to provide up-to-date, as possible, information to US citizens that are travelling or residing abroad. He said such warnings are routinely updated, roughly, every after six months.
“And it wasn’t meant, nor is any Travel Warning meant, to discourage
people from actually traveling or doing legitimate business. That’s not the purpose of it at all,” he added.
To question, he said decision to travel to Pakistan were for the
American businessmen and women to make, and that any warning were just the government’s obligation to its citizens to keep them up to date.
But, “it’s really important for you and for people in Pakistan to
understand what a Travel Warning is. It is simply providing, in this case, a routine update of general information so that they can make informed decisions about traveling,” he said while adding that Pakistan was not the only country in the world which has existing Travel Warnings.
To a question on Pakistan and India, the spokesman said that the United States wants to see dialogue and discussion between Pakistan and India to improve cooperation and improve shared efforts against the common threat of terrorism.
He said the United States has talked about the threat of extremism in
the region which affects everybody on both sides.
“And we continue to want to see dialogue and discussion between India
and Pakistan to improve cooperation, to improve communication, and improve shared efforts against a common threat,” he said.
Replying to another question, Mr. Kirby said that Pakistani leaders
know all too well the threats of extremism and terrorism as they have they’ve lost too many soldiers and citizens.
US media hails new Pak Army chief as pro-democracy
NEW YORK, Nov 30 (APP): Leading American newspapers have emphasized new Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s pro-democracy credentials in dispatches on the change of guard at what is regarded as the country’s most powerful institution.
At the same time, tributes were paid to the professionalism of the outgoing chief General (rtd) Raheel Sharif, especially his leadership in fighting terrorism and bringing peace and order to the country.
The New York Times said Gen. Bajwa, a military commander with a “solid soldierly reputation and a firm belief in civilian supremacy”, would be having multiple challenges, including deteriorating relations with neighbouring Afghanistan and India as border clashes escalate, as well as conflict with militants inside Pakistan.
“To what extent General Bajwa will stay true to those convictions remains to be seen in a country where the military wields tremendous power and drives security and foreign policy,” Correspondent Salman Masood wrote from Islamabad. “General (Raheel) Sharif was seen as an overreaching figure in the civilian government,” the Times dispatch noted.
“That larger-than-life reputation raised hopes and expectations of many in a country where people are often wary of politicians,” it said. In recent months, there were surreptitious public campaigns urging General Sharif not to retire …”
The Wall Street Journal said Gen. Raheel Sharif became the first head of the army since 1996 to make way for his successor after completing a standard three-year term.
The Journal said, “Pakistan saw its first civilian transfer of power in 2013, when one elected government succeeded another after completing its term, bringing (Prime Minister Mohammed Nawaz) Sharif to office for a third time.”
Now, with this smooth transition for the top military post, Pakistan is moving toward becoming a more “normal” country, it said.
The Washington Post said Gen. Bajwa has “strong pro-democracy views and might be more open to civilian involvement in foreign and security policy than past army chiefs.”
“Despite (Gen. Raheel) Sharif’s reputation as a professional with no political ambitions, his departure after a three-year term had not been a foregone conclusion,” Post Correspondent Pamela Constable said, noting that in recent months, that there were calls that he stay on the job amid escalating tensions with India.
“It was a familiar temptation that has repeatedly kept Pakistan from evolving as a democracy in the name of safeguarding its stability,” the Post said. “The fact that Gen. Sharif resisted, analysts said, matters far more than the recent frenzy of drawing-room and barracks speculation over who will replace him.”
“Some of the hyper-nationalists, some TV anchors and retired [military] officials wanted him to stay, but he disappointed them,” Saad Mohammed, a retired brigadier, was quoted saying. “He stayed out of politics, he stood up to India, he brought the army out of despondency and he took on the challenge of terrorism that was eating at our vitals. He will go down in history as one of our best and most popular army chiefs.”
Imran should accept his ‘defeat’ in Panama Papers case: Daniyal
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): PML N leader Daniyal Aziz Wednesday said
the ‘defeat’ of Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the Panama Papers case was imminent and he should accept it.
Imran Khan was in the habit of levelling ‘baseless’ allegations, which could not be proved as evident from his past record, he said while talking to media.
He said today PTI’s lawyer Naeem Bukhari was unable to prove
allegations levelled by Imran Khan against the prime minister and his family in the Panama Papers case in the Supreme Court.
The situation would be the same on next date of hearing on December 8, as the lawyers would again fail to provide any evidence to prove the allegations, he claimed.
Talal said during Wednesday’s proceedings, Imran Khan asked the
court to give him 35 minutes more to justify the allegations, which again showed his ‘weakness’ as he had nothing to prove his repeated accusations.
He said the PTI leader had backed of from his stance in the parliaments taken on many issues as he was used to hurl baseless accusations against his political rivals. Such ‘self created stories’ could not be proved in the court of law, which needed solid evidence, he added.
Imran to again meet ‘defeat’ in Panama Papers case: Talal
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): PML N leader Talal Chaudhary Wednesday
said the petition filed by PTI leader in the Supreme Court seeking the prime minister’s disqualification would meet the same fate like that he met in the electoral rigging case before the judicial commission.
Talking to media here, he said Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan had been striving hard for months to derail democracy on the basis of Panama Papers, but he was unable prove his ‘baseless’ allegations against the prime minister and his family in the apex court.
Talal said for months Imran hyped on alleged elctoral rigging, but he could not provide any proof in that regard before the judicial commission.
He said same was the situation in Panama Papers case as the prime minister’s name was not mentioned, but the PTI chief kept on telling lies. Since the Supreme Court could not be influenced, but the PTI kept on changing their lawyers expecting to get favourable decision on the basis of emails and information extracted from books which were hardly read by anyone, he added.
He said the PTI’s ‘defeat’ in the Panama Papers was a fait accompli.
He said the PTI’s plan to make film on the life of prime minister was a positive step as it would provide the people an opportunity to know about the accomplishments of a successful statesman.
He alleged that Imran Khan was a ‘liar’ as he had told lies about his children, flat and offshore companies.
Replying to a question, he said the prime minister and his family had cleared all the allegations levelled against them in the court.
Notification of new COAS appointment issued
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): The competent authority has approved
the promotion of PA 19617 Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa HI (M), Inf to the rank of General and appointed as Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) w.e.f. 29th November 2016, a notification No.3/11/D 2(A II)/2016 B, dated 26.11.2016 received from Ministry of Defence, Rawalpindi said.
French envoy calls on Secretary Defence
ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Ambassador of France to Pakistan
Martine Dorance Wednesday called on Secretary Defence Lt Gen (Retd)
Zameer ul Hassan Shah.
The two sides discussed matters relating to national and regional
security, exchange of information, bilateral defence cooperation, crisis management efforts, early finalization of the Letter of Intent between National Defence University (NDU) and Institute for Higher National Defence Studies (IHNDS) France besides arrangements for the 5th meeting of Pak France Joint Security Commission.
According to a press release issued here, the ambassador congratulated Secretary Defence on assumption of office and successful conduct of IDEAS 2016 a defence exhibition.
The two sides were of the view that national and regional security was
an important and common concern.
The two countries can help each other by sharing and exchanging information to monitor the foreign combatant elements involved in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq which have become new centauries for such elements.
The secretary defence apprised the French envoy about efforts of
Pakistan army in countering terrorism and sought technical support from France.
He also thanked the ambassador for providing assistance to the Law
Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan.
The ambassador gave a brief account of crisis management system in
France.
Zameer ul Hassan Shah said that Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority could learn from France expertise in this sector.
The ambassador expressed hope that Letter of Intent for cooperation
between NDU and IHNDS can be signed during the next meeting of Pak France Joint Security Commission proposed to be held in first quarter of 2017 in France.
She apprised the Secretary Defence about the arrangements of the
meeting and assured that French side would positively consider the agenda to be proposed by Pakistan.
The secretary defence apprised the ambassador about the situation on
the LoC and stated that Pakistan Army only retaliated the unprovoked violence by the Indian Army.
It is feared that such prolonged situation could escalate due to
miscalculation, Secretary Defence said adding that international community should take serious notice of the situation.
The ambassador assured that international community as well as
European Union were aware of the situation of LoC and it was their public
position that Pakistan and India should talk together to normalize the situation and promote good relations between the two countries.
The ambassador invited the secretary to visit France for the fifth
meeting of Pak France Joint Security Commission. The Secretary Defence thanked the ambassador.
AJK PM warns India to refrain from launching any adventure against Pakistan
MIRPUR (AJK): Nov 30 (APP): AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan Wednesday warned India to refrain from launching any aggression against Pakistan or Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
“People of AJK were ready to sacrifice their lives to defend inch after inch of Pakistan against any Indian aggression”, Prime Minister Farooq Haider said while talking to media at the side line of his visit to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the AJK capital town where he had to inquire about the well being of the victims of the recent unprovoked Indian firing on Line of Control.
He directed the hospital staff for providing all medical facilities to
the injured persons.
Prime minister also talked to the Indian firing victims and other patients and assured that government would not leave them alone in these hours of tial.
AJK people and government have full support for Pak Army for its mission to purge Pakistan from the terrorism, the AJK prime minister said.
He stressed the need of early economical and political stability of Pakistan to meet all the internal and external challenges..
AJK prime minister strongly condemned the larger scale hostilities of
Indian Forces on Line of Control, saying that the Indian Army was targeting the civilian population and killing the peaceful innocent people.
He expressed complete solidarity with local people affected by the
unprovoked Indian mortar shelling.
Prime minister said hospitals in AJK would be up graded and all
medical facilities also be ensured.
AJK Information Minister Mushtaq Minhas was also with prime minster during his visit.