Summary Tasnim Aslam confirmed that Nawaz Sharif has responded to Indian PM's letter.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) — Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tasnim Aslam on Thursday rejected reports by India s National Investigation Agency claiming that a Sri Lankan national has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, Dunya News reported. She confirmed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has responded to Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s letter offering assistance to Pakistan in flood relief operations. She stated that Pakistan had been in touch with India to enhance cooperation in terms of disaster management as an agenda to bring peace and development in the region. She also announced that the schedule for Chinese President’s visit to Pakistan was under discussion.
Prime Minister’s letter to Modi
Talking to media in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that Pakistan has also extended a helping hand to India’s efforts for flood relief and rehabilitation. She said that the deployment of army troops on Siachen is also possibly resulting in several devastating environmental changes. Talking about the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, she stated that the water dispute increases tensions between the two countries. She urged that Pakistan wants a peaceful resolution of the water dispute.
Indian Prime Minister Modi had sent a letter offering assistance to Pakistan in rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit Azad Kashmir on Sunday. The letter was sent after Modi’s visit to the Indian Kashmir which has also been hit by massive floods killing at least 420 people while more than 6 lakh people still remain trapped in the flood-ravaged areas. Modi expressed his agony for the loss caused in Pakistan.
Sri Lankan alleged for Spying on India for Pakistan
Tasnim Aslam denied the allegations about a Sri Lankan national arrested in India on the charges of spying for Pakistan.
A Sri Lankan national named Arun Selvarajan has been arrested by India’s National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Thursday for allegedly spying in India at the instigation of Pakistan. The suspected spy had allegedly gained access to sensitive Indian installations and had passed on the information through internet. According to Hindustan Times, NIA has arrested a Sri Lankan national on charges of taking photos and videos of vital security installations in Chennai and passing them on to his handler in the Pakistani high commission in Colombo.
Chinese President’s Visit
Foreign Office spokesperson said that the foreign office was following up with diplomatic sources to reschedule Chinese President’s visit to Pakistan. She also told the media that it hasn’t yet been decided as to who would represent Pakistan in the session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Foreign Office had earlier officially announced that the scheduled visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was to take place this month, has been postponed and it will be re-scheduled at an early date.
“In view of the current political situation in Pakistan, the Governments of China and Pakistan have mutually agreed to postponement of the state visit of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of China, to Pakistan, which was scheduled to take place later this month,” the Foreign Office said.
Army Operation in North Waziristan
She stressed the importance of protecting the Diplomatic Enclave and the diplomatic community in Pakistan. She also confirmed that the protest leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek stayed away from Islamabad’s heavily-guarded Diplomatic Enclave. She said that Pakistan was passing through a critical stage as the army is waging a war against the terrorists in North Waziristan and has vowed to wipe put terrorism from Pakistan.
