*ISLAMABAD:* Appreciating Pakistan’s neutral stance over Yemen conflict,former Iranian minister and Foreign Relations Strategic Council Head DrKemal Kharazi stressed Pakistan and Iran should join hands and worktogether to ensure regional and global peace.
He was addressing the session Emerging Regional & Global Scenario – APerspective From Iran which was organised by the Institute of PolicyStudies (IPS), Islamabad. The session was chaired by former foreignsecretary Shamshad Ahmed Khan.
Dr Kemal Kharazi was of the opinion that any cooperation between Iran andIndia can never be against Pakistan, much the same way no Pakistan alliancewith Saudi Arabia can be made against Iran. He said that every countryoperates to serve its own interests but its increasing relations with Indiawere not going to hurt Pakistan in any way.
He said that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed cultural, religious, geographicaland historical ties and even their interests were not much dissimilar fromeach other. It was thus the need of time that these deep-rooted relationsbe graduated to economic ones, which would provide significant impetus tothe region’s economic growth. The linking of Gwadar and Chabahar Port wastermed an important step by the Iranian former foreign secretary thatshould be taken in this regard.
Speaking about some of the conflicts that existed between Iran andPakistan, the speaker said that none of those issues were very serious innature and hence they should not be reflected on the policies of eithercountry.
Shedding light on the developing situation in Afghanistan, Dr Kharazitermed the involvement of Taliban in Afghanistan’s government necessary,stating that any such development will invalidate any legitimate reasoningfor United States’ stay in Afghanistan. The speaker stressed that Iran andPakistan should join hands and work together in this regard as both thecountries have suffered extensively over the matter. The US on the otherhand, he viewed, would want to extend its stay in Afghanistan as much aspossible as this will help in keeping an eye on China, Russia, Iran andPakistan.
Talking about the status of a nuclear deal between US and Iran following USPresident Donald Trump’s threats, Dr Kharazi said that though Iran wasstill sticking to the agreement, US was trying to run away from it and hadalready started violating the deal in the process. He said that the optionsfor Iran were still open in case of US violation.
On the matter of Daa’ish, the speaker said that the organisation was formedto counter the Iranian revolution but it failed to serve the purpose. Hesaid that Daa’ish had recruited 80 thousand personnel which included 50,000fighters from different countries. If Daa’ish becomes successful in Iranand Syria, then it will break the countries into parts, which willeventually benefit Israel.