Pak rules out joint relief operations with India

Pakistan on ruled out joint relief operations with India in quake-hit Kashmir region and instead made a counter offer to help New Delhi in its efforts to deal with the crisis.

“There is no possibility of any joint relief operations on both sides of the LoC. There is no population on the LoC,” newly-appointed Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Tasleen Aslam told reporters here.

The Pakistan Army is operating in villages and towns in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) including far-flung areas but not on the LoC, she said.

“We remain willing to help Indians if we are needed for any kind of assistance like the Indians offered us any kind of assistance”, she said.

Replying to another question, she said India has formally been informed of Pakistan’s offer. She said Pakistan was “grateful” for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s offer of any assistance. Foreign secretary, Shyam Saran too spoke to his Pakistan counterpart Riaz Muhammad Khan on the recently established hotline and offered assistance.

“At the moment we are assessing our requirements. We are getting assistance. We will see if there is need for assistance (from India),” she said adding we need to keep in mind that the earthquake has hit parts of India and Jammu and Kashmir. “but if need be, we are ready to help them like they have offered to help us”, Aslam said.

Responding to a question about security concerns, she said “I don’t know. Maybe Indian media has reported about security concerns”.

Aslam took exception to external affairs ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna’s comments asserting Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. Replying to a question on Sarna’s comments made in response to remarks by Kashmir Affairs Minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, she said “all I have to say is that Kashmir is internationally recognised disputed territory.”

“Kashmir dispute has been recognised by the UN Security Council resolutions and entire international community as a dispute that needs to be resolved peacefully through dialogue between the parties,” she said adding the composite dialogue process too includes Kashmir as one of the “key agenda items” for talks.