Tehran:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared the total support of Pakistan on Monday to Iran’s law to have a civilian nuclear program and assured Tehran that Islamabad would work with it on all questions of mutual concern.
Shehbaz arrived in Tehran during the second stage of his regional tour. He had interviews with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Palais de Sa’dabad. The Prime Minister also called the Iranian supreme chief Sayyed Ali Khamenei.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by the chief of staff of the army, Marshal Syed Asim Munnir, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar, the Minister of the Interior Mohin Naqvi and the Minister of Information Attaullah Tarrar.
After the talks at the delegation level, Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Pezeshkian addressed the joint media installation. On this occasion, Shehbaz expressed his gratitude to Iran for his support during the recent escalation between Pakistan and India.
The Prime Minister confirmed Pakistan support for the Iranian Pacific Nuclear Nuclear program. “We hold on to our Iranian brothers and reaffirm our support for the Pacific Nuclear Program of Iran,” he said. “Pakistan has fully supported Iran’s law to have a civilian nuclear program.”
Shehbaz told the media that Pakistan was alongside its brothers and sisters in Iran to promote peace, progress and prosperity. He assured Iranian leaders that Pakistan would work with Iran on all questions of mutual concern.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan came out of the recent crisis with India as victorious due to “the courageous actions of our exceptional armed forces”, which were strongly supported by the people of Pakistan. He repeated his offer of talks with India for peace in the region.
“We want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks … and solve our pending problems, including cashmere, according to resolutions of the United Nations Security Council which was recognized even by the Indian Lok Sabha when Nehru was the Indian Prime Minister,” he said.
“For the sake of peace, we are ready to speak on various questions, including water, trade and the fight against terrorism if India is serious,” he added. “If they accept our offer, we want to speak for peace. If India remains aggressive, Pakistan defends its sovereignty and its territorial integrity,” he warned.
Earlier, Shehbaz and Pezeshkian have held large interviews. The two parties decided to improve cooperation to stimulate 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 according to which the two brotherly countries of Neigbouring must improve cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment and the 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 secure their borders of 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 ceasefire between Pakistan and India, saying that the regulations for problems by dialogue was essential for stability in the region. He urged the two parties to have positive consultations with each other and with international partners.
The Iranian president told journalists that the two parties had discussed the problems with which the Islamic world was confronted and that absolute priority was the question of Palestine. “As always, we support the cause of Palestine and condemn the atrocities led by Israel,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan has condemned Israeli actions that caused an indexed misery for the people of Gaza, where more than 50,000 Palestinians were murdered by Israeli forces. “It is high time that the international community uses its influence to bring sustainable ceasefire to Palestine.”
Meeting with Khamenei
Later, the Prime Minister, as well as his delegation, made a courtesy call on the Iranian supreme chief, Dr. Sayyed Ali Khamenei and informed him of recent conflict with India and hegemonic and revisionist conceptions of India. He thanked Iran’s management for supporting Pakistan against Indian assault.
He also informed the supreme chief of the measures taken to raise the Pakistani-Iranian ties to the highest levels and argued that his government has committed to further deepening strategic cooperation with Iran in the complex geopolitical era.
Dr. Khamenei appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz to promote regional peace and stability with hiding. He praised his personal commitment to further strengthen Pakistani-Iranian relations and prayed for greater prosperity, growth and development of Pakistan and his people.
$ 10 billion
Before his visit to Tehran, Prime Minister Shehbaz declared in an interview with IRNA that trade between Pakistan and Iran had experienced a significant increase in the last three to four years, adding that it would be increased to $ 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 higher than that. We are talking about the signing of a free trade agreement [FTA]. I think that over the next 10 years, the commercial volume between the two countries will develop a lot, “he said.
To this end, the Prime Minister stressed the need to have made long -term economic commitments. “I personally believe that a solid economic link between Pakistani Balutchistan and Pakistan Sistan-Baluchetan … can be very effective in managing terrorism,” he added.
Speaking of the visit of his Iran, the Prime Minister said that the objective of his visit was to thank Iran for having supported and standing in Pakistan during the conflict with India. “I want to thank the Iranian leadership for its support and its mediation offer, which we accepted, but India has rejected,” he added.
Answering a question, he said that there could be peace and justice in the region until the cashmere and Palestine issues, reiterating that these questions were resolved in accordance with the aspirations of cashmere and the Palestinians.
Asked about Iran-US talks, the Prime Minister said negotiations, diplomacy and commitment were the best solutions. “I have great confidence in Iran’s leadership. I hope enough that positive things will get out of these negotiations.”
(With News Desk entry)
