'Pakistan for peaceful solution of Iran’s N programme'
Pakistan Times National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said Pakistan was against the use of force against Iran over its nuclear programme and wanted the row to be settled through discussions and dialogue.

“Pakistan will never support use of force against Iran and wants that [Iran’s nuclear] issue is settled through discussion and dialogue,” he told a group of Iranian journalists in an interview here at the PM House.

The Prime Minister said “Pakistan is against proliferation in any form and believes that it is the right of every country to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in line with the IAEA guidelines.”

Twelve countries including Pakistan, Russia and China abstained from voting on the European Union proposed resolution approved by IAEA for referring Iran to the United Nations Security Council.

Referring to Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, he said Pakistan was fully committed to the project to meet its growing energy requirements. “We treat it as a peace pipeline as it will also help our ties with India,” he added.

To a question about security concerns expressed by India he said Pakistan has the largest network of pipelines in the developing countries and expressed his confidence that addition of another line would not be a problem.

He, however, added that if India does not join the pipeline, Pakistan would still go ahead with the project as it has to meet its energy needs owing to a growing economy. About Pakistan’s contacts with Israel, he said Pakistan was totally committed to the cause of the Palestinian people adding they have a right to an independent homeland.

“Pakistan supports their just struggle and will always support them,” he added. He stressed the need of involvement of all stakeholders to bring peace to the Middle East.

The Prime Minister however made it clear that talking with Israel did not mean its recognition. To a question he said Pakistan was not considering any trade relations with Israel. The Prime Minister gave the Iranian journalists an overview of Pakistan’s relations with Iran, Afghanistan and India.

He said Pakistan and Iran were bound in ties of common heritage, history and faith with strong cultural and economic relations and share common views on many global issues.

He said the two countries were also to set up a Joint Investment Company, while Iran was providing funds for some construction projects in Pakistan. He said the IPI project would further deepen the bonds.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan has close and cordial relations with Afghanistan. He said it believes that a strong, stable and peaceful Afghanistan was not only in its own interest, but also for Pakistan and the region.

“Pakistan fully supports President Karzai and the Bonn process,” he said and added Pakistan’s trade with its neighbour had risen over US one billion dollars, while around 40,000 of its skilled manpower was working for reconstruction of the war ravaged country.●