News Desk |
Addressing the National Assembly on 2nd May, Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted the need to promote trust-building initiatives between Iran and Pakistan. Given the repetitive Indian violations of the greatest confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan, the Line of Control Ceasefire, FM Qureshi stressed that Pakistan should not invite conflict on a third border. “The government of Pakistan is focused on promoting relations that strengthen trust”.
FM Qureshi urged National Assembly members to understand the role played by “certain powers” who do not want stability and peace in the region and continue to stir propaganda and malignant activities. He stressed, “These elements are trying to stir up misconceptions and misunderstandings between Pakistan and Iran. Our government is driven to eliminate these misunderstandings.”
FM Qureshi informed the National Assembly that he has had four meetings with the Foreign Minister of Iran, two of which were held in Islamabad, one in Iran and the fourth in Istanbul. He explained, “We discussed our overall situation and the challenges of maintaining peaceful borders, and we agreed on a joint intervention to undermine extremists who sponsor terrorism through these borders.”
FM Qureshi noted that Pakistan has informed Tehran of the initiatives it has taken to strengthen border security and ensure that its territory and borders are not used to instigate terrorism against Iran or any other country. Qureshi stated, ”We are well aware that Iran’s relations in the region and its relations with other Muslim nations are “sensitive”, while Pakistan has close ties with these states. Therefore, Pakistan needs to maintain the “delicate balance” along with understanding the sensitivities and concerns that dictate Iran’s relations with other Muslim states.“
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FM Qureshi noted, “Keeping in mind these concerns, we have initiated a positive engagement and cooperation with Tehran. We have undertaken steps to strengthen trust; for instance, we have increased our regiments of Frontier Corps, along with establishing a new headquarters at Turbet for rapid response, and we have increased heavy border surveillance. We have also decided upon a joint border venture, along with border fencing to take action against all groups that use our borders for terror activities.”
PM Khan’s Visit to Iran: New Atmosphere of Cooperation
FM Qureshi highlighted PM Imran Khan’s recent visit to Iran, where he engaged in extensive dialogue with the Supreme Leader of Iran, along with the President and other leaders. The Iranian leaders were presented with comprehensive details of Pakistan’s actions against terrorists, and the misunderstandings between the two nations were clarified. He observed, “This visit gave birth to a new atmosphere of relations marked by trust and we are hopeful that it will prove instrumental in strengthening our relations in the future.”
FM Qureshi stressed that given the sensitive and delicate balance between Pakistan’s relations with Iran and the elements that seek to promote mistrust between the two nations, it is important for Pakistan not to fixate on minor issues and concentrate on building trustful relations marked by mutual cooperation. Referring to the incident of kidnappings undertaken by terror groups emerging from Pakistan’s territory, FM Qureshi stressed that Pakistan immediately responded to Iran’s requests for cooperation. “Our forces acted very swiftly, their (Iranian) people were released and handed over to the authorities, an initiative that aided in generating goodwill.”
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Similarly, FM Qureshi highlighted the Ormara terror incident, where a terror group used the soil of Iran to stage an attack on Balochistan’s Makran Coastal Highway, claiming the lives of 14 innocent passengers. “We recorded our apprehensions and requested Iran’s cooperation by identifying the terror camps located on their territory and other links of their affiliations”.
FM Qureshi highlighted that the need to understand the ambitions of certain intelligence agencies operating in the regions who are hell-bent on promoting mistrust and lack of cooperation between Iran and Pakistan. He added, “We have to undermine their efforts and we are actively thwarting their strategies to promote mistrust”.