Bharat Rakshak

Transcript of Media Briefing by Official Spokesperson (February 13, 2015) ………………………..

Question:The Prime Minister tweeted this morning that he would be sending the foreign secretary on a SAARC yatra. Will he go to Pakistan and what is the timeline?

Official Spokesperson: Let me try and place this in perspective. You know, cricket is a metaphor for connectivity at the people to people level in those SAARC nations where cricket is popular. You are also aware that the Prime Minister practices multi-layereddiplomacy that is engagement at different levels. There is public diplomacy, there is people to people engagement and of course there is diplomacy at the leadership level. Therefore, Prime Minister’s interaction today with those other south Asian leaders from the SAARC was in pursuit of this cricket as a metaphor for connectivity between our people. In this context, he did contact, as he has himself said, the President of Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the President of Afghanistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He did indicate to them the priority that he places on SAARC and mentioned that the foreign secretary would undertake a yatra. Now, this is not new, because the priority that the government of India places on its relationship with SAARC is not new. The Prime Minister on his first day in office had invited a host of SAARC leaders, all the SAARC countries to be present at his swearing in ceremony. The external affairs minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj has visited 5 of the 7 SAARC members other than India so far. She is expected to undertake a visit to another neighbor and therefore, when a new foreign secretary has takenoffice, the directive of the Prime Minister that he undertakes a SAARC yatra is in continuity of a policy that has been set on day 1. Now, if your question is, does that include Pakistan? My answer to that is, of course it does. The foreign secretary will visit all SAARC countries, including Pakistan.

Question:When Mr. Jaishankar goes to Pakistan, so are we looking at a resumption of dialogue process which was cancelled off in August?

Official Spokesperson:I think all that I said, you didn’t seem to hear. I understand that. Let me repeat it again. I said this was a SAARC yatra. This was engagement or re-emphasis on SAARC. This was a directive by the Prime Minister about India’s engagement with the SAARC. You are aware, when Prime Minister was in Kathmandu, he had listed out a series of efforts that India will make towards SAARC. Let me recollect some of them for you. A SAARC’s satellite, whose utilitI satin is available to all South Asian nations, partnership between South Asian university and one university each in various countries, medical visas for patients from SAARC along with their companions, vaccines for children in South Asia, SAARC business travelers card. I could list out several others. These are the agenda with which the foreign secretary will go to each of the SAARC countries. If your question is that in addition to this would he utilize the opportunity to discuss bilateral issues, obviously nobody misuses an opportunity which is available.

Question:But, there is resumption of dialogues, isn’t it?

Official Spokesperson:Again, let me explain to you, thisis a SAARC yatra. Let me also indicate to you, when diplomats meet, they have met before on sidelines of various events. This is a SAARC yatra in pursuance of Prime Minister’s initiatives at the Kathmandu summit last year. I listed out to you a series of areas that India is interested in pursuing and if you say that opportunities may arise for discussion of other elements other than what I’ve listed, sure, we have a bilateral agenda with all the SAARC countries. We will pursue that bilateral agenda too, given what is possible within the constraints of a short visit to each of these countries.

Question:When is he going to Pakistan in particular?

Official Spokesperson: If your question is, is he leaving this week, my answer is no. If your question is, is he going next week, my answer is no. If your question is, is he visiting Pakistan first, my answer is no. If your question is, anything beyond that, my answer is my vision is limited to two weeks. As you all know, I always announce these just a few days before.

Question:Afghanistan ke President ki Bharat Yatra ke baare me koi abhi vichar ho raha hai kya? Aisi bhi kuch soochnayein aa rahi hain ki Afghanistan ne Bharat ke saath ek bada Arms sauda cancel kar diya hai, to kya iss baare me aapko lagta hai ki Afghanistan Bharat ki bajay China aur Pakistan ko jyada preference de raha hai?

(Is there any news about the upcoming visit of President of Afghanistan? There are some news that Afghanistan has cancelled a big arms deal with India, so do you think that instead of India, Afghanistan is preferring China and Pakistan?)

Official Spokesperson: When Prime minister and President Ashraf Ghani met at the Kathmandu summit of the SAARC, Prime Minister did invite President Ashraf Ghani to visit India at an early date. We are right now, working on modalities for that date. I can assure you that it is our intention that President Ghani visits India at an early date. We are interested in that. President Ghani is interested in that. As there is a proverb in Hindi –jab do taraf razi hain to kya krega koi aur.

Official Spokesperson: India desires a stable, peaceful and independent Afghanistan. To that end, we have a strategic partnership with Afghanistan. Integral to that strategic partnership with Afghanistan is cooperation in the defence sector. That cooperation, the way its proceeds, is based on requests from Afghanistan and our own ability to meet those requests in a manner which we can sustain. That’s where we are. Now you are saying that there were requests, you are saying those requests are withdrawn. I am not aware of those. But I would like to give you the framework of our equation with Afghanistan. We desire a peaceful, stable and independent Afghanistan. Our cooperation in defense is geared towards that.

Question:Today the Press Secretary to the Prime minister of Bangladesh briefed the media there that when Prime minister Modi talked to the Prime Minister Hasina, they talked about (inaudible) many unresolved bilateral issues. So, my question is whether Prime Minister tried to understand about the internal situation of the Bangladesh?

Official Spokesperson: What you are saying is right because I told you when leaders or diplomats talk, they also utilize opportunities. Every opportunitiy should be used. And yes, they did talk about other issues. I will not get into those details of what other issues because this is privileged communication. My job here is to give you the drift of the discussions and the approach that we follow. I can’t be a fly on the wall because then I will be swatted.

Question: You talked about cricket diplomacy. So, is there any SAARC cricket tournament? Something like that is being planned?

Official Spokesperson:I think those of you who follow cricket at the world cup are aware that the five nations from SAARC are playing among themselves four cricket matches. All of you are interested only in the first match. I understand that, but beyond that while India and Pakistan are in one pool, there are three other SAARC nations who are going to play among each other in the other pool. That is Afghanistan plays Bangladesh, Bangladesh plays Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka plays Afghanistan. So, in a way, it’s already underway.

Question: One of the paper carried the story today that the Prime Minister is likely to visit Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles and Bangladesh in course of next three weeks. Can you please confirm it?

Official Spokesperson: Let me tell you again, I have answered this question, but I will answer it again. All the countries that you listed, we consider as neighbours. Some maritime neighbours, some with who we have a land boundary. Prime Minister is on record as having said that he would like to visit all our neighbours at an early date. I have also said that beyond the frame of ten days, I suffer from short sight.

Question: Is foreign secretary of India going to hold bilateral talks with the foreign secretary of Pakistan when he visits Islamabad?

Official Spokesperson:Let me again try and explain to you. Perhaps my skills at explanations are pretty weak and I understand that I am not able to communicate well to you. But let me tell you. Let’s put it another way. When the Prime Minister of India invited SAARC leaders here, there were discussions relating to SAARC. There were also discussions relating to issues of a bilateral nature among them. Diplomats and leaders utilize every opportunity to push their agenda. So, India will push its agenda.

Question: Again back to the SAARC yatra, is it going to happen in alphabetical order in that case? Do you have some kind of sense how it is going to proceed?

Official Spokesperson: I understand your intention to know how it is. No alphabet is not the basis, neither was it this morning nor is it going to be for the foreign secretary's yatra. These are based on logistical requirements, timing, availability of counter parts etc. So factors other than alphabetical order will determine his visit. Incidentally it may be alphabetical. I will not get into that.

Question: How soon is the yatra going to begin? I mean is it going to be this month or next month?

Official Spokesperson: Once the Prime Minister of India announces it, it is imminent.

Question: There were reports of India denying visa to two people from Vatican. Is it a fact that those were people having minister stage rank and we have tendered an apology?

Official Spokesperson: I have no idea. I have answered this question previously to you. The external affairs ministry is not the place to provide answer to Visa issues. There are other organisations in the government of India, who handle this. I suggest you direct these questions to them and not to the external affairs ministry. You may think we are all powerful, like I see there. All of them seem to repose a lot of confidence in us. We are a small niche ministry handling very specific areas of responsibility.

Question: Again come back to Pakistan Sir. Do you safely assume that India wants to talk to Pakistan but by proxy?Milna to chahte hain magar chupke-chupke! (They want to meet but don’t want to disclose it!)

Official Spokesperson: Isme chupke-chupke kya hai?(There is nothing to hide). Everybody knows that the Prime Minister of India has publicly announced that the foreign secretary of India is undertaking a SAARC yatra.Isme chupke-chupke kya hai? Khullam-khulla hai. (We aren’t hiding anything, we are being very open about it).

Question:Sir, jis tarah se Pradhanmantri beech-beech me Pakistan ke Pradhanmantri se Cricket ke naam pe ya pehle bhi baat karte rahe hain, kya hum maanein ki SAARC ke alawa bhi Bharat aur Pakistan bilateral issues par baat kar rahe hain? Officially jisko aapne August me khatm kar diya tha?

(As our Prime Minister spoke with the Prime Minister of Pakistan on cricket or had been talking on other issues also, so should we believe that India and Pakistan are talking on bilateral issues beyond SAARC, which are officially not being discussed since last August?)

Official Spokesperson: India and Pakistan or India and Bangladesh or India and Sri Lanka, when our leaders talk, they utilize opportunities to discuss other things. Cricket was today’s main item on the agenda. Other issues, when we talk, we will share it with you. If it is a subsidiary issue, this is separate. But today, world cup is starting tomorrow on the fourteenth. Please get ready. Cricket is in the air. It overtakes foreign policy.

Question:India was said to have set the bar pretty high last year in August, when we cancelled the talks because of the high commissioner’s meeting with Hurriyat leaders. So is that condition still there? Will it be there when the FS goes to Pakistan?

Official Spokesperson: I think you haven’t heard a word of what I said. I said and the Prime Minister said that the foreign secretary is travelling on a SAARC yatra. I don’t know whether the SAARC yatra is what we set the bar on. I will give you a list of things that were in SAARC. I also said, if there are other issues on the agenda, we push those issues on the agenda, but this is a SAARC related yatra which is proceeding from a country which will start off with another SAARC country, I have made it very clear. It will include all SAARC countries, I have made it very clear. It will also include Pakistan. India is focused on the SAARC agenda. I will give you a list. Yes, if there are opportunities, we will push our agenda everywhere.

[url=http://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.h ... ry_13_2015]Ministry Of External Affairs

Harish wrote:Pakistan, to its credit, has consistently said it will NEVER support India's just ambitions to enter the UNSC. I credit them with a stronger resolve and a better understanding of their own national interests. No greasy friendship stuff here.

Agnimitra wrote:Indian Urdu Daily from Lucknow, Sahafat, reports:

"China forces Imams to dance; in revenge, 6 Hindus murdered in Sindh."

[See article in bottom half of page]

A couple of days ago this article became news, on Chinese Imams being forced to dance.

schinnas wrote:

Agnimitra wrote:Indian Urdu Daily from Lucknow, Sahafat, reports:

"China forces Imams to dance; in revenge, 6 Hindus murdered in Sindh."

[See article in bottom half of page]

A couple of days ago this article became news, on Chinese Imams being forced to dance.

How can pious Muslims in Pukistsn spread awareness about this atrocity against ummah and the grave insult to Allah? Shouldn't the video and pictures be widely circulated amongst Sam abduls in the land of pure? Why are pious not using social media to spread this information around?

partha wrote:^
Is that a new spin? That Delhi election result is the reason for restarting dialogue? That's worse than ICC WC spin. It's insulting to Delhi voters.

partha wrote:^
Is that a new spin? That Delhi election result is the reason for restarting dialogue? That's worse than ICC WC spin. It's insulting to Delhi voters.

KLNMurthy wrote:

partha wrote:^
Is that a new spin? That Delhi election result is the reason for restarting dialogue? That's worse than ICC WC spin. It's insulting to Delhi voters.

Practically all members of Indian media are stupid, lazy and dishonest beyond belief. This should be taken as axiomatic when reading anything by them. Guilty unless proven innocent.

Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court Justice Noor Muhammad Maskanzai narrowly escaped a powerful bomb explosion in the Noshki area on Saturday.

Police sources told Dawn that the chief justice's convoy was targeted through a remote-controlled blast at Kharan bridge near Noshki.

"There was a huge blast when the CJ's convoy crossed the bridge," police said. One of the security vehicles escorting the judge was partially damaged in the blast that rocked the whole area, they said.

"Justice Noor Muhammad Maskanzai is safe," police confirmed.

The CJ was coming from Kharan to Noshki when his convoy was targeted. The judge was on a visit of lower courts in Kharan and Noshki since the last few days.

Frontier Corps, police and Levies personnel reached the spot and cordoned off the area to probe the incident.

The blast also destroyed a portion of Kharan bridge. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

VikasRaina wrote:Without giving any free publicity or link to the Paki paper, there is a article by A G Noorani in Dawn newspaper.

The article is flowing with milk of sympathy for Kashmiri Muslims as if seats won in Jammu don't matter and its ok if Kashmiri muslims rules over the state but heavens would fall if someone from Jammu gets to rule the state or even be a stakeholder in the govt.
That Mufti is now a traitor and power hungry shark is gist of the article.

Although it is expected of snakes like Noorani, so no upping of BP.

The government's sudden decision to reach out to Pakistan took many by surprise. But the timing is indicative of a couple of things: First, the desire to change the dominant negative narrative of the Modi government in the aftermath of the Delhi elections. The move will be popular with the constituency that has been uncomfortable with Modi's decision in August 2014 to call off foreign secretary talks.

chetak wrote: something fishy and uncomfortable about the insistent and incessant pushing by the PDP for talks with the pakis. Hope moron mufti does not precipitate anything unilaterally in another pathetic example of a failed politicos greedy run for the chimeral nobel

partha wrote: Because he is the Prime Minister of India now. He should do what he thinks is right for the country and he did just that. Whether he got visa or not a decade ago should not matter.

The Agreement on Early Harvest Programme (EHP) between Pakistan and China is operational with effect from 1st January 2006.

An Oregon man pleaded guilty on Friday to being an accessory after the fact for helping people linked to a suicide bomb attack on the headquarters of Pakistan’s intelligence service in 2009 that killed about 30 people, court records showed.

Reaz Qadir Khan, a naturalized US citizen living in Portland, admitted in a plea entered in US District Court that he provided advice and financial aid to the suicide bomber’s Maldives-based wives following the attack, knowing that such assistance would hinder and prevent their capture.
Khan, a 51-year-old wastewater treatment plant operator and married father-of-three originally from Pakistan, was arrested in 2013 on an indictment which accused him of using email and intermediaries to consult with and provide financial support to the Maldivian bomber, Ali Jaleel, and his family.

The indictment said the conspiracy began in 2005 and continued on through the May 27, 2009, attack on Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence headquarters in Lahore and into the following month. The attack also wounded some 300 people.

MS. PSAKI: It is. I have one item for all of you at the top. Yesterday, Pakistan marked its national women’s day, so it's fitting that this afternoon we – or this morning, we opened the first WECREATE center in Islamabad. WECREATE centers are safe spaces for women to access essential resources for starting or growing businesses. We believe that unleashing the potential of half a country’s population is a powerful tool to drive economic growth and prosperity. This is the first of a number of WECREATE centers that the State Department will launch worldwide, including in Africa and Southeast Asia.

QUESTION: I’m going back to India again. Today the prime minister called – made phone calls to four of the – four South Asian leaders, including Pakistan, on the cricket World Cup which is being inaugurated in Australia. But the question is about the call he made to Prime Minister Sharif about revival of the peace talks. He is sending his foreign secretary to Islamabad. How do you see this development as?

MS. PSAKI: Well, Lalit, we believe that India and Pakistan stand to benefit from practical cooperation and are encouraged that they may resume dialogue aimed at reducing tensions. The relationship between India and Pakistan is critical to advancing peace and security in South Asia, so we would certainly welcome any resumption of talks between the two countries.

QUESTION: Yesterday, the chairperson and the ranking member of House Foreign Affairs Committee wrote a letter to Secretary Kerry seeking a new policy on Pakistan, which should – according to them should include sanctions, travel restrictions on Pakistani officials, sanctions on Pakistan, because they argue that the present policies are not – is not working. The Pakistani Government, according to them, continues to shelter Lashkar-e Tayyiba and Haqqani Network. Has – there are two questions related to that. Has the Secretary received the letter? Secondly, does he agree with the statements made by these two congressmen?

MS. PSAKI: I have not seen the letter. I can’t confirm for you if the Secretary has received it. I’m sure we will respond to the letter as we do from any letter from a member of Congress.

QUESTION: There’s one more related the Pakistan. The former President Musharraf, in an interview to Guardian newspaper today said that it is the ISI which nurtured Taliban. Is that your opinion?

MS. PSAKI: Can you say that one more time?

QUESTION: He said that ISI, which helped establish the Taliban in Afghanistan.

MS. PSAKI: I just don’t think I’m going to have any more on that issue for you.

QUESTION: Do you have one on Pakistan?

MS. PSAKI: Or Pakistan? Let’s do Pakistan.

QUESTION: Just one follow-up on the mosque bombing there.

MS. PSAKI: Sure.

QUESTION: It seems like escalation of these bombings that have been claimed – the responsibility has been claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. Even after the country said they have this new policy to counter terrorism, what is the reaction on the continuing violence?

MS. PSAKI: Well, let me first say that we’re saddened by the latest attack on a mosque and extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims. We stand in solidarity with the people and Government of Pakistan in confronting this type of extremist violence. We’ve certainly seen the claims. I clearly don’t have any confirmation of that. As you know, the challenge of taking on the threat of terrorism in Pakistan is something that is a big topic of discussion in our bilateral relationship, and was one when the Secretary was there just a couple of weeks ago. And they have talked about wanting to do more and continuing to do more, and we are willing to and prepared to continue to be a partner in those efforts.

QUESTION: You’re more than just saddened by the attack, aren’t you? You would condemn it, right? This is --

MS. PSAKI: We certainly would condemn it, absolutely.

QUESTION: And there’s another one: The Pakistani – former Pakistani national but now U.S. American citizen has been arrested in Portland, Oregon, in connection with the attack on the ISI headquarters in Pakistan in 2009. What do you say about that?

MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any details on that. I can check with our colleagues at --

QUESTION: Have you found --

MS. PSAKI: the Department of Homeland Security and see if they do, and they’re probably the most appropriate resource for you.

Pak violates ceasefire, fires mortar shells: India and Pakistan today traded accusations of violating ceasefire along the border area. Pakistani Rangers fired two to three mortar shells in Nowapind border outpost area along the International Border in R S Pura sector of the district tonight, BSF PRO S Yadav said.

The shells exploded at an isolated areas and did not caused any casualty or injury to anyone on this side, he said adding that the BSF did not retaliate.

Meanwhile, Pakistan army today claimed that a 60-year-old civilian was killed today in alleged firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control. 60-year old Muhammad Aslam was killed in Polas village in Rawlakot sector this afternoon, Pakistan army said in a statement.

Harish wrote:Maybe it's just me, but Modiji appears to be gushing goodwill in all directions - including toward the toilet. As someone who was repeatedly denied a visa to the US for years, why did he have to invite that country's President for the R-Day function, hain? He could have cold-shouldered the US for an year or two before reaching out, thereby sending the Amrikhan chaddis in a twist for a while atleast. But no. He just had to call up Obama like on the second day and invite him over. To me, that demonstrates a obsequious attitude, not a forgiving one.

... bla bla bla...

We welcome Pakistan’s recent announcement that it will soon ban the Haqqani network, but are skeptical that this will result in any real change to Pakistan’s policy. After all, groups like LET and JuD are ostensibly banned and still able to operate with virtual impunity. Just days ago, on January 25, JuD held a rally in Karachi that appeared to have taken place with government permission. Indeed, given Pakistan’s history of support for terrorist groups, we are concerned that an outright ban will never come.

The United States should pursue a different approach with the Pakistani Government. We urge you to consider implementing travel restrictions, suspending portions of assistance, and sanctioning Pakistani officials that maintain relationships with designated terrorist groups. Such an approach would make clear that the U.S. and Pakistan cannot have a true strategic partnership until Pakistan cuts all ties with terrorist organizations and renounces its use as an instrument of state policy.

Mr. Secretary, Pakistan has been devastated by terrorism. Indeed, in 2013, more than 3,000 Pakistanis were killed as a result of terrorist attacks. Thousands of Pakistani soldiers have been killed and local communities have been brutalized. If Pakistan’s long-term prospects are to improve for all its people, its leaders must make a clear break from the policies of the past

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s telephone call to his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif and offer of talks to Islamabad as a “gigantic step,” Peoples Democratic Party chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said on Saturday that the government should also consider engaging with “dissenters within Jammu and Kashmir,” in a clear reference to the Hurriyat groups.

Pakistani officials on Saturday arrested two men wanted for cyber crimes by Interpol and the FBI for defrauding several companies and individuals of over 50 million dollars.

Mir Mazhar Jabbar, a senior official with Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, told AFP his team had arrested Noor Aziz and Farhan Arshad from the northern part Karachi, the country’s largest city and commercial hub. — AFP

But finally it has happened. A Chinese company has authenticated the deposit to be qualified as “reserves”. And while they are sizeable they are not very large by global standards. The entire reserve quantity is little more than what Australian mining giant BHP-Billiton would typically produce in two years.The hard work only now begins. The ore is lodged deep under the surface. The area is well drained by the Chenab river, which may pose hydraulic challenges during excavation. The resulting mining solution could be costly.That would make the Punjab iron ore project marginal on a world scale. Any investor will look at a range of comparable mines in the world’s ore-producing regions and compare the extraction costs per ton. And in the presently oversupplied world market many marginal mines have become dormant and are available.Then getting the land cleared would pose a challenge for the Punjab government. The land acquisition for the Mangla reservoir expansion took years.Structuring a mining concession, especially against the backdrop of the Reko Diq fiasco, will pose another challenge.If the project envisages steel production on site then the government will have to think about ways to provide energy — either coking coal or gas.Finally, to move ore (and even steel) through overland transport to our steel mills and ports requires a modern, heavy haul rail system.

I have not seen the letter,” State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters when an Indian correspondent drew attention to the letter from Congressmen Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Eliot Engel, the Committee’s Ranking Member.
“I can’t confirm for you if the Secretary has received it. I’m sure we will respond to the letter as we do from any letter from a member of Congress,” she added.The letter, dated February 12, which was posted on the Congressional website, asked Secretary Kerry to pursue a different approach with the Pakistani government. “We urge you to consider implementing travel restrictions, suspending portions of assistance, and sanctioning Pakistani officials that maintain relationships with designated terrorist groups. Such an approach would make clear that the US and Pakistan cannot have a true strategic partnership until Pakistan cuts all ties with terrorist organisations and renounces its use as an instrument of state policy.”The letter said while the government of Pakistan has taken some steps to disrupt al-Qaeda and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), it has done much less to combat other designated foreign terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LET), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Jaish-e-Muhammad. This selective approach appears to stem from a misguided belief that some terrorist groups serve Pakistan’s foreign policy goals in India and Afghanistan. Just days ago, on January 25, JuD held a rally in Karachi that appeared to have taken place with government permission. Indeed, given Pakistan’s history of support for terrorist groups, we are concerned that an outright ban will never come,” they said.