Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will soon visit Pakistan to develop a joint action plan for further boosting bilateral ties and strengthening tripartite contracts with Afghanistan on security issues. "We are in consultation through diplomatic channels to finalise dates of the visit," said Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
This will be the first-ever visit of President Ahmadinejad, since he assumed the office. He told a visiting Pakistani media delegation that it would be bilateral visit or part of trilateral conference between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. During the last two years, their bilateral relationship received tremendous boost in all sectors of bilateral interest, he said hoping the forthcoming visit of President Ahmadinejad will further consolidate their deep-rooted historical and cultural relationship.
Brushing aside impression of any conflict between the two neighbouring countries, Manouchehr Mottaki said they have been maintaining close contacts to adopt common position on regional and international issues." Both sides attach high importance to expanding their socio-economic partnership, through projects like Gas pipeline.
"We are good neighbours and sincere friends and our common border is a border of friendship and peace" he remarked. Reiterating firm resolve of his country keeping their relations free-of-tension, Mottaki said, their relations are not against any third party, and his country will never allow third country to affect its relations with Pakistan.
Pakistan and Iran are part of single body. Condemning Zionist anti-Islamic policies world over, he said inimical forces, particularly Israel are bent upon to divide and harm us. But, he said they would never succeed. Clarifying his country's position on nuclear issue, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, "We don't believe in nuclear bomb. Time for nuclear bomb is over.
It is only a source of destruction. West in fact, he contended is afraid of unity and strong leadership of the Iranian nation. "Our nuclear programme is purely for peaceful purposes, we are signatory of NPT and are fully adhering to the laid-down conditions of IAEA," he added.
There is no reason of targeting Iran on issue of its peaceful nuclear programme. Firmly opposing presence of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, Mottaki said it has proved counter-productive. Terrorism, crimes and production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan are on rise, and the foreign forces have failed to restore rule of law in the war-torn country.
Terrorism is a serious issue, but he stressed that it could be tackled only through a regional strategy. The leadership of Pakistan and Iran have already agreed for a trilateral conference for promoting sustainable peace, stability and security in Afghanistan.
The conference is likely to take place in Islamabad in the near future. The three countries have signed a Joint Islamabad Declaration envisaging road map for future interaction in security and other fields of common interest. They have agreed on strategy, which called for a regional rather than foreign solution to the Afghan conflict.
They have also agreed to look into the possibilities of evolving regional approach to the some of the challenges facing the region including illicit weapons, drug money and financing of militancy through narco-money. About bilateral co-operation, the foreign minister further said they are agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in diverse spheres, especially infrastructure connectivity and collaboration in the field of energy.
Earlier, welcoming the media delegation, the Iranian Minister hoped such media inter-exchanges would help further promoting harmony and better understanding among the people of the two countries.
The delegation included Muhammad Afzal Butt President National Press Club, Hamid Mir senior anchorperson Geo TV, Mir, Siddiq Baluch, Editor Balochistan Express, Syed Ayaz Badshah Chief Editor Daily Mashriq, Mian Shahid Nadeem Producer Nawa-i-Waqat TV, Imran Shahid Anchorperson Express TV, Amir Latif, Bureau Chief Online Karachi and Javed Akhtar Director News, APP. During its three-day stay in Tehran, the delegation also had separate meetings with Deputy Foreign Minster Muhammad Ali Fathollahi and Deputy President Iran Supreme Council for National Security Ali Baqeri.
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