ISLAMABAD: Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost on Friday said that the Chabahar harbour was not a rival to Pakistan’s Gwadar port.
Speaking on Pakistan-Iran relations at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) here, the envoy said the Chabahar agreement recently signed among Iran, India and Afghanistan was not limited to three countries only and offered Pakistan and China to join it. “The deal is not closed. We are waiting for new members. Both Pakistan and China are welcome,” he said.
The ambassador said after bearing 37 years of unfair sanctions, Chabahar was a ‘window of international cooperation’ for Iran. He said that Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline could also prove a ‘jumping board’ for Pakistan due to cheaper price of the gas.
To a question on the recent drone strike that killed Taliban leader Mullah Akhter Mansour having valid Iranian visa, the ambassador said his country had never been a supporter of Taliban. “We never ever allowed Taliban and other militant groups to use our soil,” he said, and added that Tehran openly opposed rise of Taliban even 16 years ago.
To a question on Iran’s security wall built along Pakistan border, he dismissed the impression that it was to restrict the flow of Balochs from both sides. Instead, identity cards have been issued to Baloch tribesmen to move across borders without visa, he said, and added Iran, however, cannot ignore the threat of narcotics trafficking. “Any concern or interest of Pakistan is our concern and interest. There is no question, ambiguity on it,” he said.