WASHINGTON: The lifting of economic sanctions on Iran will open “massive trade” opportunities for Pakistan, says the prime minister’s special assistant for foreign affairs.

At a briefing to the media, Syed Tariq Fatemi also said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan were committed to promoting dialogue between the Kabul government and the Tali­ban. Any militant faction unwilling to come to the negotiating table will be targeted by Pakistani and Afghan security forces, he said.

Mr Fatemi expressed the hope that Iran-Pakistan pipeline project when completed would transform the energy markets of South Asia by bringing gas to the energy-starved region. “We are convinced that it is the right thing,” he said about the Iran’s nuclear agreement with the US. “We are also convinced that an end to sanctions will open up new opportunities for Pakistan to enhance its commercial and economic ties to Iran.”

Mr Fatemi said Pakistan had a long border with Iran and was keen to open up trade with it. “We have a long border, and we could have massive trade with that country, should this issue of sanctions no longer be hovering over us.”

“As soon as the sanctions are lifted, we will explore avenues and opportunities of strengthening our economic [and] commercial ties with Iran,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2015

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