ISLAMABAD – Senior political figures and leading Pakistani thinker saidthat Pakistan would not become part of any military misadventure againstIran.
They emphasized on the government to strengthen relations with Iran byaddressing issues of mutual concern and building trade ties.
They said that Iran and Pakistan should cooperate for greater Asia region.They also stressed upon the need for the implementation of Iran-Pakistangas pipeline project for Pakistan’s national interest.
They were speaking at a seminar on ‘Pakistan – Iran Relation: Challengesand Prospects’ organized by Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI). Thediscussion was held in the context of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recenttrip to Tehran.
Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost was also present on theoccasion.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, in his key note speech,recalled how Prime Minister Khan and the Iranian leadership overcame theircommunication gap during the premier’s visit to Iran through some candidtalk. “It was a very positive visit. Ice has been broken and foundation hasbeen laid for better ties. We now have to build on it,” he said in hisassessment of Mr Khan’s maiden trip to Iran.
While pointing out that several countries have continued trading with Irandespite sanctions, the federal minister said, ‘We too need to keep ourinterest supreme and explore ways for completing gas pipeline.’
He noted that absence of banking channels had been a major hindrance indevelopment of ties, therefore a barter mechanism was under discussion forpromoting bilateral trade.
Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain,while presiding over the session, said the two neighboring countriesenjoyed convergences in geography and culture with Allama Iqbal being thecementing factor; and compatibility of interest.
‘There is no incompatibility of interest on core issues,’ he underscored.
However, he observed, there were concerns, mostly in security domain, whichwere being addressed through an ongoing and sustained security dialogue.
Mushahid said Pakistan would never support a military adventure in theregion and would not allow its territory to be used against Iran. He opinedthat scrapping of the Iran nuclear deal was detrimental for global andregional peace.
He thanked Supreme Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed AliKhamenei for supporting the Kashmir cause.
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Pakistan Peoples Party leader Farhatullah Babar hailed PM Khan’s candidremarks on terrorism during Iran visit saying relations can be improvedonly by beginning with a clean slate.
‘There should be truth telling on both sides and the issue of ungovernedspaces on either sides of the border need to be tackled immediately,’ hesaid and regretted that in the past this important relationship wasmishandled.
Convener of Pak-Iran Friendship Group in Senate Lt Gen (R) Abdul Qayyumsaid there should be efforts for developing direct air link betweenIslamabad and Tehran and bilateral trade even if through barter to avoidsanctions.
Gen Qayyum said Pakistan would never support aggression against Iran or itsdiplomatic isolation and economic strangulation.
Director General Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) AizazChaudhry said that it was incomprehensible that Pakistan and Iran have notfully exploited the potential of their economic cooperation and trade.
He believed that border security issues should have been resolved long ago.These issues, he suggested, can be effectively addressed through securityand intelligence coordination.
“There is no option for the two countries, but to improve their bilateralcooperation and coordination,” he emphasized.
Former Foreign Minister and President Pakistan Council on China InamulHaque called for exploring ways through which bilateral trade can beenhanced with Iran despite the US sanctions and regularizing illegal trade.He also asked for seeing why fencing was required on borders with Iran andAfghanistan.
Executive Director Islamabad Policy Institute Professor Sajjad Bokhari saidthat Iran and Pakistan always enjoy strong brotherly ties.
He added that border between Iran and Pakistan is the border of peace andboth countries have always shown readiness to discuss border issues at thevery highest level.
He added that improved border security can help for better understanding ondifferent issues.
