Iran-Pakistan Making Progress On Gas Pipeline Project: Pak. FM

Islamabad, Feb 18, IRNA – Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Friday said that Iran and Pakistan are making progress to implement the multi-billion gas pipeline projects. Talking to media reporters Khar said that President Zardari has expressed his commitment with the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas project in the trilateral conference. Khar added that Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan are three important countries of the region having similar challenges. The minister disclosed that during the trilateral conference the foreign ministers of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are authorized to make a specific roadmap of collaboration on all issues. Answering to a question she said that Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are sovereign countries adding that Pakistan will not accept any pressure against its national interests. To another question Hina Rabbani Khar said the decision to reopen NATO supplies is with the Parliament right now. “There is no partial opening, let me clarify”, said the foreign minster. Answering a question about the request of Afghan President Hamid Karzai seeking access to Taliban who are with Pakistan she said ‘we are willing to look at everything, but if you have unrealistic or ridiculous expectations then you don’t have common grounds to begin with.’ “If our expectations are ridiculous in nature then it is very difficult to move on,” she added. “I want it to be registered that we will support any Afghan led Afghan owned Afghan driven process,” said Hina Rabbani Khar. She went on to say that Afghan people should themselves determine what force of action they want to follow and then ask Pakistan as a neighbor to support it. “We want complete clarity as to what they (Afghanistan) want from us,” said the minister./end