Pakistan welcomes a strategic partnership with Iran.
Taher Andarabi, in his weekly press conference today, welcomed the recent statements of Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, regarding the capacity of the two countries’ interactions to open a strategic partnership and said: “We are pleased with these positions because they are in line with the vision of Pakistani leaders to strengthen relations with Iran.”
He added: “Beyond the existing relations between the two countries, there are other areas for developing cooperation and increasing it to the level of a strategic partnership that we can focus on.”
The spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry added that trade in local currencies was also on the agenda of recent talks, and we are pursuing it.
The gas pipeline is still on the agenda of Tehran and Islamabad
The spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has always been in the consultations between the two countries, and its pursuit is on our agenda.
Taher Andarabi stated: “Tehran and Islamabad believe that this issue can be pursued and resolved bilaterally.”
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, during a meeting with Larijani in Islamabad on Tuesday, stressed the need for a mutually practical solution to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, citing his country’s growing energy needs. He welcomed the recent technical talks in Islamabad on the matter and said Pakistan looked forward to continuing the talks in Tehran.