Pakistan For Negotiated Settlement Of Iran Nuclear Issue

Islamabad, March 3, IRNA – Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said Pakistan opposes use of force against Iran and called for negotiated settlement of Iran nuclear issue. Speaking at a news conference she hoped that international community would find a way to resolve Iran's nuclear issue through peaceful negotiations. On the question of threats from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to impose sanctions on Pakistan, if it will continue on the gas project with Iran, she said, 'We will cross the bridge when it comes.' The foreign minister statement came a day after Clinton warned that Iran gas pipeline project is “inexplicable” and could invoke the US sanctions that would further ‘undermine’ Pakistan’s 'already shaky’ economy. Clinton told Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday that the proposed Pakistan-Iran pipeline if built, could raise serious concerns under the Iran Sanctions Act. Foreign Minister Khar said that the relations with the United States, NATO and ISAF would be promoted on the basis of mutual self-respect and in line with the policy devised by Pakistan's parliament. She said the parliamentary committee on foreign policy would finalize the recommendations by the second week of this month. To a question about not allowing the US senior officials to visit Pakistan, she said the refusal was till the time when a clear-cut policy viz-a-viz the United States was finalized. On the delay in the joint session of the parliament to decide the future engagements with NATO/ISAF and United States, she said it was due to the elections on 50 percent seats of Senate of Pakistan. She hoped that after the completion of the Senate elections, the joint session will be held in middle of this month. About the continuation of air supply to NATO from Pakistan, Ms Rabbani said the prime minister has already clarified this issue that when the NATO supply was closed there was no mentioning of closing air supply routes./end