Iran won’t let its soil to be used against Pakistan: Zarif

Foreign minister says all evidence related to Kulbhushan case shared with Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday said his country would not allow its soil to be used against Pakistan, adding Tehran had provided Islamabad all the information in the Indian spy case.

Zarif, who wrapped up his three-day visit after meeting Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua, told a private news channel that Pakistan and Iran have developed understanding on key issues at the highest level.

Citing close cooperation between the two neighbours, Zarif revealed that two suicide attempts near the Pak-Iran border were foiled on Monday night.

“Last night we had two suicide attack attempts from the Pakistani territory into Iran. Both of them were foiled and we had excellent cooperation last night from the Pakistani armed forces in order to contain those. We are very happy with the level of cooperation that exists today,” Zarif added.

 



The Iranian foreign minister said his country was seeking improved relationship with all its neighbours, including Pakistan.

He also made it clear that Iran would not allow its soil to be used against Pakistan. Similarly, he said Pakistan would not do the same against Iran.

“We have had conversations and discussions with our Pakistani friends at the highest level. We provided whatever we had and we continue to be ready. We believe that at the highest level there is a clear understanding in Pakistan about the fact that what we stated publically will continue to be the case.”

When asked to comment on Indian naval officer-turned-RAW agent Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, Zarif said the Iranian government had provided Pakistan with all the intelligence they had.

Jadhav was arrested by Pakistani authorities in March 2016 in Balochistan when he just crossed over from Iran.

 



Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister called on General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at the GHQ.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interests, regional security and Pak-Iran relations came under discussion, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.

“The visiting dignitary appreciated bilateral security engagements during recent months and measures initiated by both sides to improve Pak-Iran border security,” it added.

The army chief said that regional peace is dependent upon wider cooperation within West Asia.

“We all need to cooperate to root out transnational security/crimes threat,” he said.

The top Iranian diplomat also met National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua and discussed bilateral as well as regional and international issues.

Both stressed the importance of identifying and removing all impediments to further improve the bilateral relations.

Besides all the bilateral issues, regional security situation was also discussed at length.

Common threats and opportunities were identified and both sides reiterated to work in a cooperative framework to seek lasting peace in the region while catering for the sensitivities of each other.