Pakistan happy that Iran has defended its nuclear rights: ambassador

TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (MNA) -- Pakistan congratulates the Islamic Republic of Iran for successfully defending its right to uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes during the talks in Geneva, Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran stated on Tuesday.

“We are happy that Iran was able to defend its right as an independent nation,” Ambassador M.B. Abbasi told journalists on the sidelines of the Pakistan Defense Day reception, which was held at his official residence.

The October 1 talks in Geneva between Iran and the 5+1 countries (France, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and Germany) were the first such negotiations in 15 months.

A number of senior officers from the Iranian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps attended the event that is held to commemorate the memory of September 6, 1965, when Pakistan, its military, and people stood united in defense of the country against the sudden Indian military invasion. Since September 6 coincided with the holy month of Ramadan, the Pakistan Defense Day function was postponed until October 6.

Ambassador Abbasi highlighted the significance of Defense Day and paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.

The Pakistani ambassador stressed the need to enhance Iran-Pakistan relations in all areas, especially in the trade sector. He said bilateral relations had received a significant boost over the past year and a half but there is much more that needs to be done to tap the full potential.

“We have to go a long way. Only 20 percent has been achieved -- 80 percent is still there,” he stated.

Commenting on his meeting with the Iranian business community at Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines, the ambassador said Iranian businessmen have shown great interest in capturing the Pakistani market.

On the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, the ambassador said that the IP agreement has been signed by the presidents of Pakistan and Iran and experts are working to sort out the technical details of the project.

On the Pakistan-Iran-Afghanistan trilateral summit, Ambassador Abbasi stated that the summit will be held in November in Islamabad and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend the event, and added that Ahmadinejad will extend his stay in Pakistan and have additional meetings with Pakistani officials.

Commenting on Kashmir, the Pakistani ambassador said that the Kashmir issue is very much alive and despite its complexities, efforts are being made to achieve a peaceful resolution of the problem.

Abbasi highlighted the successes achieved by the Pakistan Army in restoring peace and bringing normalcy to the troubled Swat and Malakand regions of the country, adding that the newly elected government was committed to uprooting terrorism.

A large number of foreign diplomats based in Tehran, members of the Pakistani community, Iranian officials, scholars, and media representatives attended the Pakistan Defense Day reception.