No Chinese soldiers along LoC in PoK: Pak

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Apr 7 (PTI) Pakistan Thursday described as
"totally baseless" media reports about the presence of Chinese
soldiers along the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua told a
weekly news briefing that there was no basis for the reports
in the Indian media.
"This is the most absurd piece of information I have
heard. It is totally baseless," she said.
Janjua was responding to a question about India's
External Affairs Ministry seeking a report from the Defence
Ministry about the presence of Chinese soldiers along the Line
of Control.
The media reports had quoted Northern Command chief Lt
Gen K T Parnaik as saying that Chinese troops were present
along the LoC and posed a military challenge to India.
Referring to the resumption of dialogue between India
and Pakistan, Janjua said the process of engagement was
"moving ahead" and the Commerce Secretaries of the two
countries will meet in Islamabad during April 27–28.
Dates for a meeting between the Additional Secretaries
and Surveyors General to discuss the Sir Creek border dispute
are expected to be finalised shortly, she said.
No dates have been decided as yet for a meeting of the
Defence Secretaries, who will address the Siachen issue, she
added.
"We are confident that these talks will be imbued by a
spirit of enlightened national interests on both sides.
I must underscore that Pakistan attaches considerable
importance to the dialogue process," she said.
Asked if the issue of giving India access to Pakistan
for trade with Afghanistan would be discussed in the upcoming
meeting of Commerce Secretaries, Janjua said this matter "has
been adequately addressed in the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit
Trade Agreement."
The transit trade pact allows Afghanistan to transport
its goods to India through Pakistani territory.
However, Afghan trucks are not allowed to carry Indian
goods via Pakistan.
Responding to another question about Foreign Secretary
Nirupama Rao's remarks that India is willing to send its
cricket team to Pakistan, Janjua said: "Any sporting event
between two countries, especially neighbours, is welcome.
As for the specific matter of any visit taking place,
we have no such information."