Pakistan asks West to engage with Iran: Mediatory role offered
SHARM-AL-SHAIKH, May 20: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Saturday the world needed to engage with Iran to end its controversial nuclear standoff with the West and Pakistan was willing to play a role in a peaceful settlement of the dispute.
The prime minister warned that use of force against Iran will ‘create complications and challenges’ besides having a global impact on the supply of oil and gas.
He was talking to international media during the World Economic Forum on Middle East at the Red Sea resort of Sharm-al-Shaikh, where he represented Pakistan.
“We have to build bridges and communicate . . . In a quiet way, we are using our best offices as we want to see a reduction in tension,” he said.
However, the prime minister made it clear that Pakistan was under no illusions that it was mediating in any way.
“There should be no proliferation in any form directly or indirectly and everything should be open for inspection by the IAEA,” Mr Aziz said when asked about Pakistan’s position on the Iranian nuclear issue.
He urged the stakeholders involved in Iran negotiations to play their role and work towards a negotiated settlement of the issue. He added Russia had close relations with Iran and could play an active role in helping resolve the issue.
The prime minister said he opposed use of force against Iran and added it ‘will help no one, will muddy the waters and create more problems than resolving.’
He said Iranians were pursuing nuclear programme with a clear message asking the world not to push them around. He said Pakistan believed every country had the right to peaceful use of nuclear power under the IAEA guidelines.
Rejecting that there was pressure to abandon the proposed $7 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, he said Pakistan had to meet its growing energy needs and would take a decision keeping in view its national interests.
AFGHANISTAN: Mr Aziz said Pakistan was doing all within its means to stop illegal movement of weapons and drugs along its porous borders with Afghanistan, but urged the other side to do the same.
“We are doing our bid, and will encourage the other side to do the same as a border has always two sides and is a joint responsibility,” he said.
The prime minister said Pakistan had deployed over 80,000 troops to effectively deal with those illegally crossing the border. He said Pakistan had captured a number of terrorists and would continue to play its role (in the war against terror).
He said Pakistan believed in a strong, stable Afghanistan as it was in its own interest. He added Pakistan was seeking to build corridors of energy, transport and trade with the Central Asian Republics and stability in the region was vital for that.—APP
