ganesh177
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Pakistan seeks Saudi support against drones
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sought Saudi support to build diplomatic pressure on US to stop drone attacks inside Pakistani territories reiterating that these strikes were counter productive in international drive against terrorism.
"Yes, we are seeking support from not only Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but also the entire international community to convince US that drone attacks were impeding rather helping the war against terrorism," said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar answering a question after media briefing on her last visit to the Kingdom. She referred to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani's recent statement in this regard wherein Pakistan has sought diplomatic support from world capitals to convince US to stop predators' hitting civilians while targeting militants.
She claimed that her visit had restored the mutual trust and Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were on the same page in dealing with the issue of Afghanistan and international counter terror drive.
Backing her claim of restoring traditionally cordial ties with the Saudis, the Minister of State said that KSA has understood Pakistan's challenges with energy crisis on top of them and has offered to finance hydropower projects chiefly Diamer-Bhasha Dam. "No only the government of KSA would support Hydropower development in Pakistan but it would also encourage other development and private funds to join hands in consortia to finance cheapest power generation here," she said in her off the cuff opening remarks.
The Minister described her visit to Saudi Arabia as a breakthrough for Pakistan's external trade development. "We anticipate earliest possible conclusion of Pak-GCC Free Trade Agreement with the active support of Saudi Arabia. And this is the message we want to give out to the world that we need trade not aid," she observed.
"We have paid the highest price in the war on terror in terms of lives, economic losses, and many other irreparable damages to the country as well as society. Deserving compensation from across the glob we seek assistance in terms of trade, investment, and access to markets and not aid," she maintained.
Apart from trade Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also agreed to cooperate in the field of Agriculture. Specific projects in sectors namely diary forming, corporate forming, mechanization, and food processing would be launched, the Minister said.
To a question about sale of lands to Saudis, she said, "we don't have to go for sale purchase deals with any foreign party. There is a huge market of processed food in Saudi Arabia and we can go for joint ventures to install food processing plants in Pakistan," the minister observed.
To a question on Indian missions in Afghanistan allegedly working against Pakistan, she said, "we don't want Afghan lands used by any country for misadventures in Pakistan."
Replying questions regarding Pakistani's languishing in Saudi jails she said, Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide consular access to all those that require in any case. "We have agreed in principle to institutionalize consular access mechanism as millions of Pakistanis are living and working in Saudi Arabia. In terms of manpower Pakistan has contributed a lot to the development of Saudi Arabia," she added.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=178413
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sought Saudi support to build diplomatic pressure on US to stop drone attacks inside Pakistani territories reiterating that these strikes were counter productive in international drive against terrorism.
"Yes, we are seeking support from not only Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but also the entire international community to convince US that drone attacks were impeding rather helping the war against terrorism," said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar answering a question after media briefing on her last visit to the Kingdom. She referred to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani's recent statement in this regard wherein Pakistan has sought diplomatic support from world capitals to convince US to stop predators' hitting civilians while targeting militants.
She claimed that her visit had restored the mutual trust and Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were on the same page in dealing with the issue of Afghanistan and international counter terror drive.
Backing her claim of restoring traditionally cordial ties with the Saudis, the Minister of State said that KSA has understood Pakistan's challenges with energy crisis on top of them and has offered to finance hydropower projects chiefly Diamer-Bhasha Dam. "No only the government of KSA would support Hydropower development in Pakistan but it would also encourage other development and private funds to join hands in consortia to finance cheapest power generation here," she said in her off the cuff opening remarks.
The Minister described her visit to Saudi Arabia as a breakthrough for Pakistan's external trade development. "We anticipate earliest possible conclusion of Pak-GCC Free Trade Agreement with the active support of Saudi Arabia. And this is the message we want to give out to the world that we need trade not aid," she observed.
"We have paid the highest price in the war on terror in terms of lives, economic losses, and many other irreparable damages to the country as well as society. Deserving compensation from across the glob we seek assistance in terms of trade, investment, and access to markets and not aid," she maintained.
Apart from trade Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also agreed to cooperate in the field of Agriculture. Specific projects in sectors namely diary forming, corporate forming, mechanization, and food processing would be launched, the Minister said.
To a question about sale of lands to Saudis, she said, "we don't have to go for sale purchase deals with any foreign party. There is a huge market of processed food in Saudi Arabia and we can go for joint ventures to install food processing plants in Pakistan," the minister observed.
To a question on Indian missions in Afghanistan allegedly working against Pakistan, she said, "we don't want Afghan lands used by any country for misadventures in Pakistan."
Replying questions regarding Pakistani's languishing in Saudi jails she said, Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide consular access to all those that require in any case. "We have agreed in principle to institutionalize consular access mechanism as millions of Pakistanis are living and working in Saudi Arabia. In terms of manpower Pakistan has contributed a lot to the development of Saudi Arabia," she added.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=178413
