Iran invites Pakistan to participate in Chabahar port
ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, during his visit to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Pak-Iran diplomatic relations, invited Pakistan along with China to participate in the Chabahar seaport project. The visiting minister is being accompanied by a large trade delegation from Iran.
“We offered to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. We have also offered Pakistan and China to participate in Chabahar,” said Zarif while delivering a lecture at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad.
He added that Tehran's relations with New Delhi are not against Islamabad.
In an attempt to pacify Pakistan's concerns about Indian involvement in the Chabahar port project, the diplomat clarified during bilateral talks with his counterpart Khawaja Asif that the Chabahar port project was not meant to “encircle Pakistan … strangulate anybody.” He reiterated that Iran would not allow anyone to hurt Pakistan from its territory, much as Pakistan would not allow its soil to be used against Iran.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, thanking the Iranian leadership for their steadfast support of the struggle of Kashmiris, reaffirmed Pakistan's desire to enhance mutually beneficial economic cooperation with Iran including bilateral trade, investments and commercial interaction.
PM Abbasi added that Pakistan and Iran should work together and make their utmost efforts to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion by the year 2021.
The Iranian foreign minister appreciated Pakistan's efforts in strengthening border management to prevent illegal cross-border activities and increase highlevel interaction between the two countries.