ARY NEWS Questions at US State Department spokesperson briefing. QUESTION: Jahanzaib Ali from ARY News feed, Pakistan. I have a couple of questions, if you’ll allow me. MS. PSAKI: Sure. QUESTION: Yeah. First of all, in India there’s a hardliner group who forced hundreds of Muslims to convert into Hindus, and there are reports that they are preparing to convert 1,000 Christians into Hindus before this Christmas. Do you have anything to say to -- MS. PSAKI: I haven’t seen that report. I’m happy to take a look at it and see if there’s any comment we have. QUESTION: All right. MS. PSAKI: Go ahead. QUESTION: Secondly, about the Pakistan and United States. It looks like the relations between two – both the countries are getting better and better, and the mistrusts, I think, have been sorted out. I need your comment on the ongoing military operation against the terrorists because, well, recently Pakistan killed some top al-Qaida commander there and some Taliban commanders there. And secondly, are you seeking Pakistanis’ support to get the Afghan Taliban on the dialogue table? MS. PSAKI: Well, on the second question, we’ve always said that any reconciliation process in Afghanistan would be Afghan-led, Afghans talking to Afghans. Obviously, Pakistan has a stake in an outcome there. We certainly have discussions with them about Afghanistan and the future security and stability of the country. On the first question, I’m not sure what you were asking me exactly. But on counter -- QUESTION: Pakistan recently killed some top al-Qaida commander, like al-Juma – al-Shukri and some more. So how do you – are you – how do you see that? I mean, it’s like helping to -- MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any confirmation from the United States. I’d certainly refer you to the Government of Pakistan. We obviously work closely on counterterrorism operations, but beyond that I don’t have any other specifics. QUESTION: Okay, my last question is -- MS. PSAKI: Okay. QUESTION: -- United States is supporting the Pakistani democratic government. We have seen a lot of statements on that. But there’s still a big protest outside the parliament house still going on. Do you have any concerns about that? It can create something – some problem for the democracy in Pakistan? MS. PSAKI: I think we’ve spoken to this in the past. Obviously, we work closely with the elected government there. That will continue. We also support peaceful protests around the world, so I’ll leave it at that.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:07:47 +0000