Jandullah used Pakistani territory for Pishin blast, charges Iranian ambassador

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA, Dec 15: The Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, Mashaallah Shakri, said Tuesday that Iran wants a prosperous Pakistan and would extend all possible cooperation to boost trade and other relations with Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s nuclear scientists never involved in proliferation of nuclear technology to Iran,” he said while addressing a press conference at Iranian Cultural Centre Quetta.

He said that during his visit to Quetta, he met Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi and Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani and discussed different issues including trade and security.

He said that Pakistani and Iranian officials had held a meeting in Zahidan and agreed to boost trade and pay more attention to security..

“Iran wants a developed and prosperous Pakistan”, he said, adding without proper security we cannot become prosperous.

He called for frequent contacts between the Pakistani and Iranian authorities for increasing border trade.

Responding to a question, he said that Iran was ready to address the energy crisis of Pakistan and we had several meetings with Pakistani officials in this connection.

“Iran is ready to provide both gas and electricity to Pakistan but so far no progress has been made by Pakistani authorities to get any benefit from this offer” he added.

To a query about Jandullah organization and Iranian allegations, he said that suicide blast in Iranian city of Pishin spoiled the relations of both countries and added that Iran had evidences that Jandullah’s operatives used Pakistani territory for their activities.

Iranian Ambassador said that Iran’s nuclear programme is for peaceful purpose which had been completely monitored by IEA. “Our oil and gas resources are not much enough to meet our energy requirements therefore we have to switch over to other technologies therefore Iran would continue its peaceful nuclear programme”, he added.

He said that sanctions had been imposed on Iran in past and any further sanctions on Iran would not cast any effect on Iran ’s economy.

He said that Doctor Qadir Khan never assisted Iran in development of its nuclear programme and termed such allegations baseless aiming at to bring a bad name to Pakistani scientist.

Mr. Shakri said that constant presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan had further deteriorated situation in Afghanistan. “Use of force can’t normalize situation in Afghanistan”, he said and adding that increase in troops in Afghanistan would certainly affect neighbouring countries.

He told a questioner that Iran has not fully closed its border with Pakistan and assured that soon other parts of border would be reopened.