ISLAMABAD: Pakistan decided to resume NATO supply routes without any financial incentives as these Ground Lines of Communication were stopped in national interest and resumption was in line with national sovereignty.
"Pakistan did not close the Ground Lines of Communication for NATO supply to Afghanistan for financial benefit, therefore, these lines have been restored without any financial benefit." Said Foreign Office spokesman Mozzam Ahmed Khan while addressing weekly news briefing here at Foreign Office on Thursday.
The decision of suspension of NATO supply was a principle decision aimed at protecting national sovereignty and integrity, he added.
He said the Defence Committee of the Cabinet decided to open the supply routes for NATO so that Pakistan could play an active role in the regional peace, progress and prosperity.
The spokesman said Pakistan and United States have yet to sign new Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the resumption of NATO supply adding that technical aspects have been finalised by the technical experts both from Pakistan and Untied States and hoped that the new MoU will be signed very soon.
On the issue of drone attacks, the Spokesman said Pakistan's has clear position on these attacks as these are counter productive and violation of Pakistan's integrity and sovereignty.
He said, both the countries have difference of opinion on drone attacks and negotiations are going on and both the countries are willing to resolve it amicably through negotiations.
Replying to a question, about reconciliation process of Afghanistan and Pakistan's role in it, the spokesman said, "Pakistan wants to be a facilitator in the reconciliation process to achieve the objectives of peace and security in the region."
He said in the trilateral meeting between the foreign secretaries of Pakistan, US and Afghanistan, two commissions were constituted to ease the movement of Afghan leaders for negotiations regarding reconciliation process.
Referring to the recent meeting of US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar along with Afghan leadership in Tokyo, the spokesman said this trilateral interaction also helped in promoting efforts for reconciliation and development in Afghanistan.
"Pakistan participated in this Tokyo conference sincerely to make it meaningful and constructive to improve the situation in the region," he added.
He said strategic dialogue between Pakistan and US has also been revived and dates are being finalised for the meeting of representatives of the two countries in near future.
Replying to a question about Indian Foreign Minister's offer to visit Pakistan for bilateral talks, the foreign minister said the two foreign ministers are expected to meet in first half of September this year but dates have not been finalised.
About signing new visa regime between Pakistan and India, the spokesman said although the technical aspects to relax visa restrictions for improving better movement between the two countries have been finalised but the agreement will be signed at political level in near future.
Answering another question about Pakistani prisoners in Afghan jails, the spokesman said Pakistan has been negotiating with the American and Afghan authorities for the release of these prisoners as early as possible.
Commenting on the fare well reception being attended by the outing American ambassador Cameron Munter, the foreign office spokesman said it indicated that the ambassador was popular among the political and civil society of Pakistan due to his professional skill as diplomat.
The spokesman said any diplomate has the duty to improve the relations of his country with the country of his duty, adding that
American Ambassador Munter did play very important and constructive
role.
"We appreciate his (American ambassador) role and he is a good friend of Pakistan as he remained very active to improve Pak-US relations through out his tenure," said the spokesman. (APP)