*Islamabad – The Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson in response to aquestion regarding media reports that Iran could move the arbitration courtagainst Pakistan for delaying the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project,Faisal said, “I am not aware of any formal complaint or issue raised by theIranian side.” *
*He said the upcoming visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif toPakistan would definitely help in further enhancing bilateral ties betweenthe two neighboring states especially in economic sector.*
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Muhammad Faisal answering a question by IRNAat his weekly news briefing on Thursday said, ‘We have continuous dialogueprocess with Iran and this visit will be made in that context. Mr Zarif ismost welcome in Pakistan, the details of his visit would be releasedlater,” he said.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif heading a high level delegation willreach Islamabad on March 11 on a three day visit to Pakistan.
Responding to another question he said during Kabul Process 2 conferencedelegates from various countries including Pakistan raised their concernsabout growing presence of Daesh in Afghanistan and its implications forsecurity and stability of Pakistan and its neighbors. “Russia and Iran alsoraised questions about Daesh,” he said.
The spokesperson continued that Afghanistan affirmed its commitment tofight against all terrorist groups including Daesh and offered to conductjoint investigations regarding Daesh’s deployment through unmarkedhelicopters, however no formal agreement was signed in this regards.
He said that presence of Daesh in Afghanistan is a threat to all countriesof the region and therefore it is a matter of paramount importance for allthe neighboring countries of Afghanistan.
Faisal said there is no organized presence of terrorists groups withinPakistani territory.He said: ‘We want to have a relationship with the United States based ontrust and mutual respect.
Peace and stability in Afghanistan is a shared objective for both Pakistanand the United States, Pakistan has always extended maximum possiblecooperation that would help in achieving our shared objectives, peace inAfghanistan can be secured through Afghan led and Afghan owned peaceprocess that offers incentives to all stake holders.”
Faisal said Pakistan appreciates Uzbekistan initiative for convening aministerial conference on Afghanistan.
“We support Uzbekistan in its endeavors to contribute towards bringinglasting peace and stability to Afghanistan, in our view Afghanistan’sneighbors should play an active role for peace in Afghanistan, we believethat regional solution would be most suitable to settle the conflict inAfghanistan,” he noted.