Some elements spreading ‘undignified’ rumours about Indian spy to undermine Pak-Iran relations: Tehran

Iranian Embassy says reports could have negative implications on relations between Islamabad, Tehran

Days after Pakistan arrested an Indian spy from Chaman, Iran on Thursday claimed some elements are trying to spread ‘undignified’ and ‘offensive’ rumours to undermine relations between Tehran and Islamabad.

“During the past few days, some sections of Pakistani media have spread contents regarding detention of an Indian agent and the matter related to it, which could have negative implications on the fraternal and friendly atmosphere of Iran and Pakistan,” the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad said in a statement.



Last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made his first visit to Islamabad since assuming presidency. During Rouhani’s visit, Army chief General Raheel Sharif raised the issue of Research and Analysis Wing’s (RAW) involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs, especially in Balochistan. “Sometimes [RAW] also uses the soil of our brother country, Iran. I request they should be told to stop these activities and allow Pakistan to achieve stability,” the army chief was quoted as saying during his meeting with the Iranian president.

However, the press statement clarified, “The Islamic Republic of Iran during seven decades since independence of Pakistan has always proved itself as a confident partner and neighbour for that country and the western borders of Pakistan have never been threatened.”

It further reiterated that Iran considers its borders with Pakistan as borders of peace and friendship. “Security of Iran is security of Pakistan and security of Pakistan is security of Iran,” the statement added quoting the Iranian president during his visit to Islamabad.



“Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran believes spreading of such news items is the product of thinking which does not like further expansion of ties between the two countries and against fruitful materialisation of the agreements made during the visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and believes that Muslim and aware people of Pakistan attach special importance and value to the friendship and brotherly ties with Iran and spreading of undignified and insulting contents would not have impact on the positive and cordial views of two countries regarding each other,” it added.

A backchannel mechanism between the national security advisers (NSA) of Pakistan and India to discuss security and terrorism related issues is in danger of being scrapped after the name of Ajit Doval surfaced in the ongoing controversy surrounding the arrest of an Indian spy.



Security officials claimed that Kulbhushan Yadav’s confessional statement has confirmed the Indian NSA’s role as being the architect of Research and Analysis Wing’s current policy of stoking violence in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan.