The Asian Age

Iran offers Pak to invest in Chabahar port

- SHAFQAT ALI

Iran has offered Pakistan to invest in the Arabian Sea port of Chabahar, funded by archrival India.

Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrapped up a trip to Pakistan on Wednesday. He said Iran was open to participat­ion in the project by Pakistan and China, both of which India views as rivals.

The minister also disclosed that it and Pakistan had foiled two suicide attacks on Iran’s territory by militants based in Pakistan. Tehran has long alleged that anti- Iranian extremists use hideouts in the Pakistani border province of Balochista­n for plotting terrorism against Iran.

Jaish al- Adl, or the Army of Justice, has claimed responsibi­lity for the majority of recent attacks on Iranian soil.

“Last night, unfortunat­ely, we had two suicide ( bombing) attempts from Pakistani territory into Iran. Both of them were foiled and we had excellent cooperatio­n from the Pakistani

Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrapped up a trip to Pakistan on Wednesday. He said Iran was open to participat­ion in the project by Pakistan and China, both of which India views as rivals. India is the main funder of the project

armed forces in order to contain this,” noted Mr Zarif, while speaking to a Pakistani television channel. He did not give further details or identify the attacks’ planners.

Last year, militants ambushed and killed 10 Iranian border guards and allegedly took another back to hideouts in the sparsely populated Pakistani province of Baluchista­n.

The incident fuelled bilateral tensions and Iranian authoritie­s threatened to conduct cross- border raids to rescue the hostage and punish the assailants if Islamabad failed to do so.

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