Tehran:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared Pakistan’s full support for Iran’s right to have a civil nuclear program and assured Tehran that Islamabad would work with him in all issues of mutual concern.
Shehbaz arrived in Tehran in the second leg of his regional tour. He held conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Palacio de Sa’dabad. The prime minister also asked the Iranian supreme leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei.
The prime minister was accompanied by the head of the Army personnel, Syed also Munir, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and the Minister of Information Attaullah Tarrar.
After the conversations at the level of delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Pezeshkian went to the stakeout of the joint media. On the occasion, Shehbaz expressed his gratitude to Iran for his support during the recent escalation between Pakistan and India.
The prime minister affirmed Pakistan’s support for Iran’s Pacific nuclear program. “We are with our Iranian brothers and reaffirm our support to the Pacific Nuclear Program of Iran,” he said. “Pakistan completely supported Iran’s right to have a civil nuclear program.”
Shehbaz told the media that Pakistan was with her brothers and sisters in Iran to promote peace, progress and prosperity. He assured Iranian leadership that Pakistan would work with Iran in all issues of mutual concern.
The prime minister declared that Pakistan left the recent crisis with India as a victorious due to “the brave actions of our outstanding armed forces”, which were strongly supported by the people of Pakistan. He repeated his offer of conversations with India for the good of peace in the region.
“We want peace and we will work for peace in the region through conversations … and we will solve our pending problems, including Kashmir, according to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council that were even recognized by the Indian Lok Sabha when Nehru was the Prime Minister of India,” he said.
“For the sake of peace, we are ready to talk about different issues, including water, commerce and also against terrorism if India is serious,” he added. “If they accept our offer, we want to speak for peace. If India is still aggressive, Pakistan will defend his sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he warned.
Previously, Shehbaz and Pezeshkian made wide conversations. Both parties resolved to improve cooperation to boost bilateral trade and investment and work together to maintain peace and security in the region. Shehbaz told the media that he had a productive meeting with President Pezeshkian.
“There was a total agreement that the two fraternal Neigbouring countries must improve cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment and economy,” he said. “We have decided to transform these relationships into a very productive cooperation.”
While welcoming the prime minister and his delegation, the Iranian president said that the two countries should cooperate to make their borders safely from the activities of terrorists and criminal groups. He said that peaceful bilateral relations were in the interest of the two countries.
The president welcomed the fire between Pakistan and India, saying that establishing problems through dialogue was essential for stability in the region. He urged both parties to have positive consultations with each other and with international partners.
Iranian President told journalists that the two parties discussed the problems facing the Islamic world and that the highest priority was the issue of Palestine. “As always, we support the cause of Palestine and condemn the atrocities carried out by Israel,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistan condemned Israeli actions that were causing incalculable misery for the people of Gaza, where more than 50,000 Palestinians were killed by Israel’s forces. “It’s time for the international community to use its influence to bring the durable fire in Palestine.”
Meeting with Khamenei
Later, the prime minister, together with his delegation, paid a courtesy call about the Iranian supreme leader, Dr. Sayyed Ali Khamenei, and informed him about recent conflicts with India, and the hegemonic and revisionist designs of India. He thanked Iran’s leadership for supporting Pakistan against Indian aggression.
He also informed the Supreme Leader about the steps taken to raise Pakistan’s ties to the highest levels and maintained that his government was committed to further deepen strategic cooperation with Iran in the complex geopolitical times.
Dr. Khamenei appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz in the promotion of regional peace and stability with the vision of the future. He praised his personal commitment to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran’s relations and prayed for greater prosperity, growth and development of Pakistan and his people.
$ 10 billion trade
Before his visit to Tehran, Prime Minister Shehbaz said in an interview with Irna that the trade between Pakistan and Iran had witnessed a significant increase in the last three or four years, and added that he would take $ 10 billion in the coming years from the current $ 3 billion.
“We want to take up to $ 10 billion in the coming years, but I think the potential is much greater than that too. We are arguing to sign a free trade agreement [FTA]. I think that in the next 10 years, the commercial volume between the two countries will expand a lot, “he said.
For that purpose, the prime minister emphasized the need to have sustained economic commitments in the long term. “Personally, I think that the strong economic link between the Baluchistan of Pakistan and the Sistan-Baluchastán de Iran … can be very effective to deal with terrorism,” he added.
Speaking about the visit of his Iran, the prime minister said that the objective of his visit was to thank Iran for supporting and keeping Pakistan during the conflict with India. “I want to thank Iranian leadership for their support and mediation offer, which we accept but India rejected,” he added.
In response to a question, he said that there could be no peace and justice in the region until the resolution of the problems of Kashmir and Palestine, reiterating that it was of vital importance that these problems are resolved according to the aspirations of the Kashmir and the Palestinian peoples.
When asked about the conversations of Iran-E. UU., The prime minister said that negotiations, diplomacy and commitment were the best solutions. “I have great faith in Iran’s leadership. I hope that positive things from these negotiations come out.”
(With news desktop information)
