By IRNA,
Islamabad : President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari called on Monday for enhanced economic and trade ties between Pakistan and Iran as the current level was not in compliance with the their friendly political relations.
“I think we should have more trade together. Trade should be supported externally, internally and regionally,” President Zardari told IRNA in an exclusive interview ahead of his visit to Tehran.
The president is to leave for Iran on Tuesday on a two-day visit during which he would participate in the 10th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
The summit would be held in Tehran on Wednesday.
During his stay in Tehran, President Zardari is to meet with the top officials of the country to discuss major regional issues including the strengthening of a joint efforts to deal with regional developments.
“The entire spectrum of bilateral relations would be reviewed with the President of Iran and measures considered to further intensify mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of common interest,” said a statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
“I think the trade relations and our economic relations do not reflect the brotherly feelings we have with each other. They need to be improved,” the Pakistani President stressed.
He added that he is to encourage Iran to become a member of the ‘Friends of Pakistan’ group to help understand each other in a better way and to bring more steps towards bilateral relationships.
The group was formed last year by a number of Pakistan’s friendly countries to help the country in difficult times particularly when it is to deal with terrorism.
“The whole concept of friends of Pakistan is to bring regional strength to the issues of the regions and I am of the view that the regional issues are not properly looked into and they came only to be looked into with regional cooperation between the regional countries,” President Zardari said.
Responding a question about current international pressure on Iran for its peaceful nuclear activities, President Zardari said the world should understand that both Iran and Pakistan have peaceful nuclear programs.
“I think we need to interact with the world much more to make them understand that our intentions are very peaceful and that we do not have any intention of using nuclear technology for any other reason but peacefully,” the Pakistani President said.
Referring to the issue of the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, the Pakistani president said that Pakistan would go on with project.
He added that he would discuss the issue with Iranian officials.
The president stressed that his government was committed to the IPI project.
He said that he had discussed the pipeline’s issue with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while the two were in New York, the US, last year to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
President Zardar stressed that Pakistan would pursue the project even if India decided to not join it.
He added that in his talks with Iranian officials, he would discuss ways to step up negotiations on the project.
“We have proposed that even if the third party (India) does not come in to this relationship, we should do it on our own. Pakistan and Iran should do this project on their own,” said the Pakistani president.
Referring to the issue of border security, President Zardari said Pakistan and Iran had just signed an agreement to strengthen border management.
“Border security has been an issue in this region as we have porous borders in the region. It is a difficult terrain. We hope to improve border security,” said the president.
touching upon the issue of the abduction of the top Iranian diplomat Hashmatullah Attarzadeh, who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on his way to Iran’s Consulate in Peshawar last year, President Zardari condemned the kidnapping and said that his government was making efforts to recover him.
“We are working on this issue and are hoping to find him. This is condemnable act we are hoping to resolve it,” Mr Zardari said.
Asked how his government is to deal with the issue of extremism and terrorism, the president said he was confident to meet the challenge and emerge successful.
“I think the world is going through a transformation where every body is going through a lot of issues and Pakistan has its own issue but at the same time Pakistan has its own strength. We have managed to survive in a very difficult environment with a very difficult neighborhood but hopefully Pakistan would overcome these issues”.
Commenting on the one year performance of the government of his Peoples Party, he said the party had inherited many problems but has managed very well.
He said Pakistan and Iran have always enjoyed very cordial and brotherly relations especially in Peoples Party governments of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
“We had very good understanding with our brotherly Iran and we are hoping to continue policies of Zulfkar Ali Bhuto and Benazir Bhutto to cement ties,” he said.
Referring to the ECO summit, President Zardari said there should be more summits and more interaction to enhance ties among the member countries.
The ECO consists of 10 members including Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.