Mushahid calls for stronger political, economic, and security ties with Iran

Date : December 4, 2012

On the occasion of visit of Iranian Parliamentary Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Alaeddin Boroujerdi Chairman, National Security & Foreign Policy Committee of Majlis-e-Shura Islami of Iran, Senate Committee on Defence and Defence Production held a policy seminar on “Pakistan and Iran in a Changing Global Scenario” here at PIPS, on Tuesday.

Speaking on the event, Mr. Boroujerdi said that Iran’s Defence Strategy had no room for an atomic bomb and it upholds its right to peaceful civilian nuclear programme. He testified that Iran is supplying arms and ammunition to Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad stating the support is purely based on principles and not religious denominations. About the landing of a US drone RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft last year by Iranian Army’s electronic warfare unit, Mr. Boroujerdi revealed that Iran successfully brought down the American drone last December and was hoping to achieve the same technology through reverse engineering. He stressed on the necessity of enhancing economic and defence cooperation between the two countries reiterating that Iran was committed to the energy pipeline project with Pakistan.

Chairman of the Senate Defence Committee Mushahid Hussain Sayed called for stronger political, economic and security ties, saying it was very much possible because the two countries did not have any conflict of interest. He stated that Pakistan-Iran affiliation must be forged ahead through stronger economic, diplomatic, security and defence relations. He hoped that India which backed out of Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline project under US pressure will rejoin to promote peace and augment regional cooperation.  He said it was about time both Pakistan and Iran should learn from the mistakes committed in the past where wrong policies from both the neighbours led to long and debilitating civil strife in Afghanistan. Chairman restated that Pakistan supported the right of Iran to undertake nuclear research and enrichment for peaceful purposes in accordance with IAEA safeguards. Senator Mushahid Hussain thanked Iran for its kind support to Pakistan during difficult times, and the compassion they showed towards Pakistan during recent floods.

The seminar was attended by a diverse audience including diplomats, media personnel, think tanks and students. Senator Maulana Sherani, Khalid Mahmood, Saeeda Iqbal, Sen Sardar Ali Khan, Tahira Abdullah, Gen Talat Masood and Agha Murtaza Poya also spoke at the event.