Indo-Pak relations should not be affected by Saeed’s acquittal: Kaira

October 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has rejected reports regarding a rift between the government and the Army over the Kerry Lugar Bill issue. Responding to queries about altercations between the government and the Pakistan Army over the 'severe' terms and conditions attached with the US aid bill, Kaira said: "There is no clash between the government and Army." Kaira said Pakistan was not bound to accept the terms and conditions in the bill, as it has not inked any deal with the US in this regard.

October 6th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has admitted that the American security aid promised under the Kerry-Lugar Bill has "some strings," but they are in line with government policies. The Daily Times quoted him, as saying that the checks on the assistance promised for the armed forces were in line with the government's policies, as the government wanted a strong check on nuclear-proliferation and did not want Pakistani territory to be used to stage terrorist activities in foreign countries.

September 19th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has rejected reports of a deal being inked to allow a safe passage to former President General Pervez Musharraf after he stepped down last year. Kaira said Musharraf was ousted from the Presidency under political pressure from parliament.

September 12th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has clarified that Asif Ali Zardari Government is perusing its own foreign policies and not those formulated by Pervez Musharraf. Kaira pointed out that peace in South Asia was not possible without achieving stability in Afghanistan.

September 4th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has rebutted reports regarding Pakistan People's Party (PPP) giving assurance not to prosecute former President General Pervez Musharraf on high treason charges. Kaira said the PPP has not given any 'guarantee' to any country regarding clemency to Musharraf.

August 11th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Endorsing statements of the Foreign Office regarding the death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud, Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said all doubts over Mehsud's death would be cleared after his dead body is found. Interacting with media persons in Gilgit, Kaira said: "Mehsud's corpse will ascertain his death." Commenting on constitutional reforms for the Northern Areas, Kaira said new taxes would be levied.

August 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that elimination of terrorism is in the country's own interest. The News quoted Kaira as saying that the present government explored all peaceful means to deal with militancy before launching a military operation.

July 31st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has rejected reports that Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin-Laden is hiding inside the country's geographical boundaries. "There is no evidence that Osama Bin Laden is present in Pakistan and claims of his presence in the country should be substantiated with actionable proof," Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said.

July 23rd, 2009 BRUSSELS - Kashmir will be on the agenda of the Indo-Pak composite dialogue process once it resumes, Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said. Kaira said a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue is the key for region's development and prosperity.

June 30th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan leadership seems to lack consensus when it comes to talking about the country's relations with India, with the Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira saying that President Asif Ali Zardari's statement that India was no more a threat for Pakistan, was blown out of context. Addressing a joint press conference with the ISPR spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas here, Kaira asserted that Zardari's statement was reported out of context, and what he really meant was that there was 'no immediate threat of war'.

June 4th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has announced that the Pak government will deploy around 25,000 retired army personnel in conflict-hit Malakand division for a period of two years to maintain law and order. Kaira also told reporters that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's cabinet has decided on a cash grant disbursement mechanism for Internally Displaced Persons, and they would start receiving 25,000 rupees from next Tuesday.

June 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - The acquittal of Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD) chief Hafeez Saeed is seen as a 'very major setback' to the efforts being initiated to thaw the relationship between India and Pakistan. Experts believe that the heightened friction between the two neighboring countries was declining, as New Delhi had shown some moves to deescalate the tension.

April 10th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari would sign the Swat peace deal only after peace and harmony returns in the region. Talking to media persons here, Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira, made it clear that peace must be established in the valley before putting a stamp on the peace accord.

March 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Information Minister Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira has said that Pakistan People's Party led government had fulfilled promises made by its slain leader Benazir Bhutto, and rejected the impression that there was foreign pressure on the government for the reinstatement. "The government was not forced by any quarter other than the lawyers and the political parties to announce the restoration of deposed judges", he told reporters here.

March 15th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted the resignation of Information and Broadcasting (IB) Minister Sherry Rehman, and has appointed Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Qamaruz Zaman Kaira to the post. According to sources, Rehman told Gilani that the unwarranted interference in her work by some ministers had affected her prestige.