Pakistan-US 'Old Friends', Trump's Election Won't Affect Ties With China: Pak Foreign Office

Islamab: Pakistan and US are "old friends and partners", Foreign Office spokesperson said on Thursday, but ded that Donald Trump 's election as new American President will t affect Islamab's ties with China.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated President-elect Trump on his election as 47th President of US.

“Our relations with United States are deces old, and we look forward to furr strengning and broening Pakistan -US relationship in all fields," Baloch said at weekly briefing.

Responding to a question if Trump's election will affect Pakistan-China ties, she said Islamab's relations with Beijing are "all-wear, strategic, and a source of stability" in country's foreign policy.

"This relationship has remained unaffected by developments around world. So we do t need to even consider possibility that this relationship will be affected by any domestic development in ar country,” she said.

She ded that Islamab was fully committed to providing full security to Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan.

To a question if Trump could influence Pakistan’s internal politics and sitting government could also be pressured by him, she said it was “speculative reporting”.

Pakistan and US "will continue to pursue our relations on basis of mutual respect, mutual confidence and n-interference in each or's domestic affairs,” she said.

Speaking on Kashmir issue, Baloch said Pakistan's position for Kashmir is well kwn and it has repeatedly underlined that it is people of Jammu and Kashmir who will determine its future as it is an "internationally recognised disputed territory".

“India must realise that it cant suppress genuine aspirations of Kashmiri people through coercive tactics. It must respect rights and freedoms of people of Kashmir and ir inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” she said.

Her remarks came after India slammed Pakistan for "peddling lies and falsehood" and using UN forum for its "divisive, political nda" after it raised Kashmir issue at UN. India has said amount of disinformation and misinformation will change facts on ground.

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and shall forever” remain an integral part of country. It has also vised Pakistan to accept reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

New Delhi has also told Islamab that issues related to Jammu and Kashmir are its internal matter and country is capable of solving its own problems.

During briefing, Baloch said Pakistan looks forward to receiving Sikh pilgrims for forthcoming birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, which is celebrated on vember 15.

“Exchange of religious pilgrims between Pakistan and India takes place under bilateral protocol of 1974 that remains operational. Pakistan will continue to facilitate pilgrims who wish to visit Pakistan on important religious occasions,” she said.

Responding to a question if any meeting would take place between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on sidelines of a climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan next week, she said, “At this point, bilateral meeting is being fixed with Prime Minister of India in Baku.” She also talked about reports of health of incarcerated Kashmiri separatist leer Yasin Malik, who was observing a hunger strike.

“We urge Indian authorities to provide quality medical care to Mr Malik and immediately release him,” she said.