ISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka has expressed full confidence on Pakistan in connection with investigation into Lahore attacks saying Pak-Sri Lanka friendship journey will continue and no attempt to isolate Pakistan will be allowed to succeed.  

This was said by visiting Sri Lankan foreign minister during a joint press conference along with his Pakistani counter part foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

He went on to say tragic incident occurred in Lahore was the first ever incident in the history of Sri Lanka wherein any citizen of his country was targeted outside the country. This incident of terrorism was highly condemnable, he added. "We salute Pakistani police and bus driver of Pakistan Cricket Board for showing unprecedented valour and saving the lives of Sri Lankan cricketers at the cost of their lives, he observed. The whole Sri Lankan nation was proud of them, he remarked. 

He told his meeting with president, prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan remained productive. Investigation process regarding Lahore incident was discussed at length, he added. Pakistan would investigate the incident and Pakistani leadership had assured that Sri Lankan government would be fully apprised of the investigations into incident, he maintained. 

Terrorism was a common issue and a joint strategy would have to be pursued in this regard, he said adding terrorists had no religion, country or borders as they could attack anywhere, he observed. 

Sports served as vital means in cementing diplomatic relations and Pak-Sri Lanka cricket contacts would continue, he announced. 

Responding to a question, he said Sri Lanka would consider it seriously if cricket matches would be organized by Pakistan in future and Sri Lankan team invited. However it would be up to government of Pakistan to improve security matters, he added.  

He hoped Pakistani investigation agencies would ensure fast track basis investigation to expose real terrorist faces behind Lahore tragedy and government of Sri Lanka would be informed about all investigations. Sri Lanka was victim of terrorism since the last several years and "we have rendered sacrifices of over 70000 lives, he held. We have reached close to eliminate terrorists of Liberation Tamil Tiger Elam (LTTE) and soil of Sri Lanka would soon be cleansed from these terrorists", he underlined. The hand of LTTE terrorists in targeting Sri Lankan players in Lahore incident could not be ruled out, he added.  

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he felt grief over Lahore incident and Sri Lankan government had been informed about the preliminary investigations. The perpetrators of Lahore attack would be exposed, he indicated. Investigation team had achieved big success in short time in investigations but they could not be made public unless the investigations were finalized. As soon as the investigations were concluded, Sri Lankan government would be informed about it first of all, he held. "We would benefit from the expertise of Sri Lanka for eradication of terrorism. Joint working group would soon be set up in this respect. An investigation would be sent to Sri Lanka to take forward the investigation into Lahore attack to ascertain the stance of players of Sri Lankan cricket team ", he informed. "We are facing a common enemy in form of terrorism and we will have to counter it jointly", he remarked. Nothing could be said currently about the common enemy of Pak-Sri Lanka friendship, he told. 

To a question he said full investigation into Lahore attacks was responsibility of Pakistan authorities. Sri Lanka reposed full trust on Pakistan and we hope from Pakistan authorities that they would inform Sri Lankan government about the investigation soon, he underscored.  

Addressing a press conference in a local hotel Sri Lankan foreign minister said he and president of Sri Lanka were informed about Lahore incident in Katmandu when they were on the visit of Nepal. "I have come to Pakistan as a special envoy of president of Sri Lanka.” “I was grieved over the reports of injuries sustained by Sri Lankan cricket team players. But I felt more grief over the killings of Pakistani police personnel and driver", he remarked.

He hoped those found involved in the incident would be exposed by following all the norms of justice. "We would wait for final outcome of investigations", he remarked. However no time frame has been given in this connection, he pointed out. 

Responding to a question he said India was not involved in sabotaging friendship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka while India had extended full support to government of Sri Lanka in eliminating ITTE terrorists. 

Replying to a query about holding of ICC World Cup in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, he said Sri Lankan Cricket Board would continue its full support for organizing cricket world cup matches in Pakistan but it was up to Pakistan to improve security situation and satisfy ICC on this count. 3/3 Lahore incident would leave no negative impact on the bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he added. Commercial and trade ties would continue, he added.

Courtesy: paktribune.com