NEW YORK: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif held talks with President of Iran, Dr. Hassan Rouhani and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon here on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Hassan Rouhani expressed satisfaction on the positive trajectory of bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iran. The lifting of international sanctions against Iran has paved the way for resumption of economic relations between the two countries with a view to realizing the true potential of bilateral trade. Current trade volume remains low at US$ 268 million per annum.
In this regard, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif stressed on the need to remain engaged at expert level to remove whatever technical delays that continue to hold back resumption of full economic cooperation between the two countries.
Opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, especially oil, gas and electricity were also discussed. The two sides noted that progress on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and electricity import from Iran would help overcome Pakistan’s energy shortages in the coming years.
The Iranian President said that Iran can install a power plant on border with Pakistan to supply electricity. We consider Pakistan’s economic development as our development, the President added.
The Iranian President said that Pakistan’s security is security of Iran. There is a need for defence cooperation between Iran and Pakistan as there is a history of defence cooperation between the two countries, the President mentioned.
The Prime Minister said that the hearts of the peoples of Pakistan and Iran beat together. Iran is a brotherly country. Our interests are same; we need to further consolidate our economic cooperation, expressed the Prime Minister. Rouhani lauded the vision of the Prime Minister for translating CPEC into reality and expressed his desire to be part of the CPEC.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that he will nominate two focal persons who will finalize energy projects with Iran in coming days. Border management and security were also discussed. The Prime Minister apprised President Rouhani of Indian brutalities in Kashmir, particularly in the past two months. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been victims of heinous acts of state sponsored terrorism at the hands of Indian occupation forces. The Prime Minister shared the latest situation in Kashmir, which continues to remain tense in the wake of the uprising that has surfaced in response to Indian barbaric acts in the Valley.
The Iranian President said that the future of Iran and Pakistan is similar and bright.
The President extended an invitation to the Prime Minister for visiting Iran.
During meeting with UN Secretary General, the Prime handed over dossier of Indian state atrocities on the innocent Kashmiris to the UN Secretary General.
The Prime Minister showed to UN Secretary General the pictures of the innocent and defenceless people of Indian
Occupied Jammu and Kashmir who have been victimized through brutal use of force and atrocities at the state level.
The UN Secretary General expressed his shock while seeing the pictures of the victims of pellet guns being used by Indian occupying forces.
The Prime Minister thanked UN Secretary General for his strong and supportive statements on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He apprised the UN Secretary General of the gross human rights violations being committed by India that have resulted in over 100 deaths and injured thousands, during the last seventy four days in the Indian occupied Kashmir. The indiscriminate use of pellet guns, which have blinded hundreds including women and children, is reflective of the inhuman and barbaric mindset of the Indian security forces.
The Prime Minister apprised Ban Ki Moon of the plight of the innocent Kashmiri people who have been victims of Indian brutalities that continue unabated. India also continues to resort to repressive measures such as curfews, incarceration of Kashmiri leaders and denial of medical treatment to the injured, especially those blinded and poisoned by pellet gunfire.
The UN Secretary General praised Pakistan for its prominent and active role in the United Nations and its contribution for peace and security in the world. —INP
