Monday, August 06, 2012

Pak foreign policy based on equality, respect, peace: Bukhari

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari, on Sunday, said the guiding principles of Pakistan’s foreign policy were based on the internationally recognised principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs of other states, respect for territorial integrity, non-aggression and peaceful settlement of disputes.

He said this while addressing the Iranian parliament, according to a message received on Sunday.

He said that Pakistan believed that in the present globalised world, the multifaceted problems could be resolved through proactive participation in multilateral institutions and organisations. “We are committed to finding a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute,” the Senate chairman stated.

Regarding bilateral ties, Bukhari remarked that Pakistan and Iran shared common perceptions on international and regional issues and closely cooperated in international forums. He mentioned that Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan after its independence and the two countries shared more than six decades of close fraternal relations, which have stood the test of time.

He expressed his satisfaction that Pakistan-Iran relations had smoothly progressed over the years into an equation based on principles of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation. Bukhari further said that there was a strong bond of affinity between the leaderships of the two countries. Iranian President Ahmedinejad was the first head of state to visit Pakistan after the present government took office in 2008. He again visited Pakistan earlier this year in February. President Zardari has visited Iran four times since taking over as the president. He said, “Iran and Pakistan are two important players in the region, sharing common borders. Their unique strategic location places them in a way that the nature and content of their bilateral relations are bound to have a profound impact on the peace and stability of the entire region.” Talking about the cooperation between the two countries, the Senate chairman observed that a number of important projects between the two countries were in the pipeline. These include the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project, through which Pakistan would receive gas from Iran by December 2014; a project for the supply of 100MW electricity by Iran to Gwadar; and a project for the supply of additional 1,000MW electricity by Iran to Pakistan. The Senate chairman also pointed out that a number of other proposals were also under consideration.

These comprise of proposals regarding the establishment of new border immigration posts at Gabd (Pakistan), Rimdan (Iran) and Mand-Pashin; opening of Pakistan consulate at Bandar-e-Abbas; opening of Pakistan cultural centre in Tehran; and upgradation of 633km Quetta-Taftan railway track. He emphasised that it was time to move towards a more multi-faceted and a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship in all areas, particularly trade and investment, energy, security, communication and infrastructure. Bukhari underlined the need for Pakistan-Iran inter-parliamentary relations to be strengthened alongside economic and trade linkages.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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