Pakistan on Saturday said it had no pressure from any country over Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and it was progressing well. Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit told media here in weekly briefing the project was having significance for Pakistan as its operational agreement has already been signed.
While dismissing the impression that Pakistan was being pressurised from a country not to go for the project, Basit said that Pakistan and Iran are making headway on the project that could help Pakistan meet its energy requirements. When asked about importing electricity from Iran, he said that Pakistan could explore all possible means of getting electricity to overcome the prevailing energy crisis halting social and economic life.
To another question, he said Pakistan has strong reservations over construction of dams by India and would put water issue on top of the agenda of composite dialogue whenever resumed with India. We have serious concerns on the construction of over 300 small dams in the occupied Kashmir, he added.
Basit reiterated Pakistan's stance that it was ready to have meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with India based on mutual respect and on the principle of sovereignty for durable peace in the region. Giving details of the upcoming summit on nuclear security in the United States, he said that summit is being hosted by President Barack Obama in Washington and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani would be heading Pakistan's delegation.
He said that the nuclear summit is not Pakistan specific but is international conference with danger of nuclear terrorism, national and international steps to prevent the danger and role on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Basit said that Pakistan's nuclear assets are in safe hands under a secured command and control authority. He said that the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Gilani on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit would further pave the way of strategic partnership between the two countries. They are expected to have discussion on bilateral co-operation on economy, trade, security and energy.
He said the summit, being attended by over 40 nations from across the world including China, Russia, India, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE and others, would focus on the security of nuclear materials. When asked about Pakistan stance on Iran's nuclear issue, Basit said that Pakistan's stance is that all the countries should have the right of access to the nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Answering a question about the delay in issuance of visa to the US auditors, the spokesman said the matter had been resolved and the US officials were in Pakistan.
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