Aziz rejects speculations of deal with Saudi Arabia on arms for Syria

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz rejected the media speculation that Pakistan has changed its position on Syria or is supplying arms to Syrian rebels directly or indirectly, according to a ministry of foreign affairs statement. He was speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday. “These impressions are totally baseless and misleading,” said Aziz. He added, “we strongly reject the media speculation that Pakistan has changed its position on Syria or is supplying arms to Syrian rebels directly or indirectly. These impressions are totally baseless and misleading”. Following the recent visit of Saudi Crown Prince to Pakistan, there had been some speculations in the media that Pakistan had changed its stance on Syria under Saudi pressure and it is selling arms to Saudi Arabia to be used by the Saudi backed rebel forces in Saudi Arabia. Aziz said that Pakistan only sells arms through a legal mechanism and by abiding with all relevant national and international regulations which require End User Certification to prevent the buyer from onward sale or transfer of weapons to any third party. “I would like to clarify that during the Saudi Crown Prince’s visit the two sides only mentioned the need to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of defence with an aim to have a mutually beneficial defence and security cooperation,” said the advisor. He informed the house that Pakistan already have three defence agreements with Saudi Arabia regarding exchange of defence delegations, training programs and employment/deputation of Pakistani defence personnel in Saudi forces. Aziz said such allegations are motivated to blemish the name of the country. He urged media to act more responsibly in national interest and be refrained from propagating misleading propaganda. Referring to the joint statement issued at the conclusion of Saudi Crown Prince’s visit Aziz said that the two sides had reiterated the need for finding of a quick solution of the existing conflict in Syria according to Geneva-I Resolution in order to restore peace and security in Syria and prevent bloodshed of the Syrian people. Pakistan has always taken a principled position on the Syrian crisis, Aziz reiterated, adding that they supported the international efforts in finding a peaceful Syrian-led and inclusive solution being pursued under the Geneva process, meeting the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people through a comprehensive political dialogue involving the entire spectrum of the Syrian polity, said Aziz. He added that Pakistan had welcomed the Syrian accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention and destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile and always urged for the cessation of hostilities by all sides. It should also be noted that we have always calls for withdrawal of all foreign armed forces from Syria and lifting of the siege of Syrian towns to provide humanitarian assistance, said Aziz. “Our position on Syria, which is based on principles of international law, has been pursued by us consistently without any change,” said advisor to PM.