Islamabad: Pakistan on February 10 said it hopes to start consultations with India
soon to workout modalities to name replacements for the expelled acting High
Commissioners of both the countries.
This was stated by Foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan shortly after the
departure of Indian Charge d'affaires Sudhir Vyas and four more diplomats expelled by
Islamabad in a tit-for-tat row over New Delhi expelling Pakistan's acting High
Commissioner Jaleel Abbas Jilani on charges of funding terrorists in Kashmir.
Khan also said Pakistan has no plans to reduce the number of its personnel in its
High Commission in New Delhi.
"We do not want any reduction in the staff strength. It is not Pakistan that is
setting the pace", he said adding that Vyas, recently held talks with Pakistan
Foreign office about
clearing visas at the level of Deputy High Commissioners and hoped that the issue
would be settled amicably.
The Foreign Office spokesman also maintained that Pakistan has taken measures to stop
infiltration of militants across the lino of control (LoC) and reiterated Islamabad's
offer for positioning UN monitors along the LoC to verify the allegations.
"There has been no infiltration and Pakistan has taken all measures to prevent it,"
Khan said.
Asked about the statement made by National Security Advisor, Brajesh Mishra charging
Pakistan of hiding nuclear weapons in tunnels and caves, he said such accusations
were
"not worthy of comments".
"He, (Mishra) seems to have been carried away in rhetoric," Khan said.
Claiming that Pakistan's nuclear weapons were in safe hands he said Pakistan has
proper command and control system to safeguard the weapons.
About reports in the international media stating that the Taleban was regrouping in
Pakistan under its official supervision, he said the reports were totally baseless,
groundless and with malicious intent.
To another question, he said Pakistan has asked the families and non-essential
members of the Pakistan Embassy in Iraq to leave in view of the prevailing situation.
He also said Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali would visit Tehran
on an official visit from February 15.
PTI
