JEDDAH, 31 October 2005 — Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri has strongly denounced Saturday’s serial blasts in Delhi and said his country was not involved in them.
“There is neither a Pakistan hand nor that of any Pakistani agency in these blasts,” Kasuri told a press conference here yesterday. Pakistan’s Ambassador Abdul Aziz Mirza and Consul General Masood Akhtar were also present during the press conference.
“This is purely a crime against humanity and Islam does not allow such heinous acts,” he added. Kasuri arrived here on Saturday and met with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in Makkah and handed over a letter from President Pervez Musharraf.
Kasuri expressed his gratitude for the Kingdom’s generous aid and support after the earthquake that hit Pakistan on Oct. 8 and extended his greetings to the Saudi leadership. He also extended an invitation to the king on behalf of Musharraf to visit Pakistan. The king inquired about the performance of the Saudi field hospital in the quake-hit area and the distribution of relief supplies to the victims.
Kasuri quoted the king as saying that Pakistan’s tragedy as a result of the earthquake had directly impacted the Muslim Ummah.
Talking about NATO’s involvement in relief operations, the minister assured that the presence of NATO contingents in Pakistan was only meant to help the victims and clearing the roads blocked by the quake.
Kasuri reiterated that his country had requested for more helicopters from world governments. “We’re grateful that the United States responded to our request by providing 24 helicopters in addition to heavy equipments and machineries used in the clearance of road blocks,” the minister said.
Replying to questions, he said Pakistan had not accepted any aid from Israel. Asked to comment on a report that a 200-member Pakistani trade delegation was to leave for Israel, Kasuri said: “I’ve no information. The truth is that the Pakistan government had assisted a delegation that intended to visit Palestine and meet with President Mahmoud Abbas. We asked Israeli authorities to facilitate the visit.”
Kasuri urged Iran to settle its nuclear issued raised by the United States. “Iran must clear its intentions keeping the International Atomic Energy Agency’s interests in tact.”
About the line of control (LOC), Kasuri said five points along the LOC had been opened after the committees of both countries had given guidelines. “Both countries have their concerns, however there is no confusion,” he emphasized.
