No formal complaint launched by Iran against Pakistan over IP gas pipeline project delays: FO
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*Islamabad - The Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson in response to a question regarding media reports that Iran could move the arbitration court against Pakistan for delaying the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, Faisal said, “I am not aware of any formal complaint or issue raised by the Iranian side.” *
*He said the upcoming visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to Pakistan would definitely help in further enhancing bilateral ties between the two neighboring states especially in economic sector.*
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Muhammad Faisal answering a question by IRNA at his weekly news briefing on Thursday said, 'We have continuous dialogue process with Iran and this visit will be made in that context. Mr Zarif is most welcome in Pakistan, the details of his visit would be released later,” he said.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif heading a high level delegation will reach Islamabad on March 11 on a three day visit to Pakistan.
Responding to another question he said during Kabul Process 2 conference delegates from various countries including Pakistan raised their concerns about growing presence of Daesh in Afghanistan and its implications for security and stability of Pakistan and its neighbors. “Russia and Iran also raised questions about Daesh,” he said.
The spokesperson continued that Afghanistan affirmed its commitment to fight against all terrorist groups including Daesh and offered to conduct joint investigations regarding Daesh’s deployment through unmarked helicopters, however no formal agreement was signed in this regards.
He said that presence of Daesh in Afghanistan is a threat to all countries of the region and therefore it is a matter of paramount importance for all the neighboring countries of Afghanistan.
Faisal said there is no organized presence of terrorists groups within Pakistani territory. He said: 'We want to have a relationship with the United States based on trust and mutual respect.
Peace and stability in Afghanistan is a shared objective for both Pakistan and the United States, Pakistan has always extended maximum possible cooperation that would help in achieving our shared objectives, peace in Afghanistan can be secured through Afghan led and Afghan owned peace process that offers incentives to all stake holders.”
Faisal said Pakistan appreciates Uzbekistan initiative for convening a ministerial conference on Afghanistan.
“We support Uzbekistan in its endeavors to contribute towards bringing lasting peace and stability to Afghanistan, in our view Afghanistan’s neighbors should play an active role for peace in Afghanistan, we believe that regional solution would be most suitable to settle the conflict in Afghanistan,” he noted.
