TEHRAN – Pakistan has started a new phase of relations with Iran, Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran stated on Saturday.

During the military rule of General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan-Iran ties suffered, so now Pakistan is rebuilding relations with Iran, Ambassador M.B. Abbasi said.
He went on to say that Pakistan would welcome it if Iran agreed to mediate between India and Pakistan in the longstanding Kashmir issue, which is hampering progress in the region.
The Pakistani ambassador made the remarks during an exclusive interview with the Mehr News Agency on September 5 in Tehran on the eve of Pakistan’s Defense Day, which occurred on September 6.
Following is the text of the interview:
Q: What is the significance of Defense Day of Pakistan?
A: September 6, which is the Defense Day of Pakistan, is a golden chapter in the history of Pakistan, when Pakistan, its military and people stood united in 1965 in defense of Pakistan. It is celebrated in the memory of martyred people who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the country. First time since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Pakistan was threatened by external forces and Pakistan successfully defended itself from all the perils and saved country’s dignity, that’s why we call it Defense Day of Pakistan.
Q: How do you evaluate Pakistan-Iran relations in economic, political and cultural fields?
A: We call it a new era of social and economic relation with Iran. During the nine years of military rule in our country Pakistan-Iran ties suffered. However, now we have a democratically elected government headed by President Asif Ali Zardari and relations are improving again. This is the best time to rebuild our relations; so many high-ranking dignitaries such as finance and commerce ministers are visiting Iran and working on several important projects. Among these projects the most important is Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
Q: What’s the current status of gas pipeline project?
A: The Iranian delegation headed by the deputy minister of energy visited Pakistan on September 4. The delegation finalized some more things related to the gas pipeline project, so the project is in the last stage of completion of the agreement.
Q: What happened to India?
A: India is out.
Q: For advancement of Iran-Pakistan relations have you utilized your maximum potential?
A: Not yet. We have to go a long way. In my judgment we have just made a start. Only 20 percent have been achieved -- 80 percent is still there.
A: At present, what is the volume of trade between Pakistan and Iran?
Q: The annual trade volume between Pakistan and Iran has increased from 400 million dollars to over one billion dollars and this will improve further since Pakistan has also started importing crude oil from Iran.
Q: What quantity of crude oil Pakistan is importing from Iran?
A: In the beginning Pakistan is importing 50,000 barrels per day that is 33 percent of its total crude oil consumption and is planning to increase this quantity further.
Q: Excellency, how would you assess your own performance in this one and half years you have been serving in Iran as Pakistan’s ambassador in boosting Iran-Pakistan relations?
A: I think you should asses this. You are in a better position to make judgment.
We have broken the ice. We have removed the bottlenecks. There was much inefficiency which has been put aside. For example, first Iranians were hesitant to visit Pakistan embassy in Tehran, now they are showing eagerness to pay a visit as we have made the system more efficient.
And since January 2009 there have been two visits of president of Pakistan to Iran. Pakistani foreign, finance, commerce, trade and sports ministers have also visited Iran during this period. And there have been many cultural visits as well.
Q: In future do you see any important officials’ visits from Pakistan or to Pakistan?
A: Yes, probably in next month or in November President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Pakistan. And in October foreign minister of Pakistan is expected to visit Iran again. These visits are for the trilateral meetings of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. But President Ahmadinejad will extend his stay in Pakistan and have meetings with Pakistani officials to discuss important issues.
Q: What role Pakistan army has played in war against terrorists particularly in Swat and Malakand regions?
A: Pakistan army is directly engaged in anti-terrorism operations in some parts of the country. It has removed most of the terrorist networks in Swat Valley and Malakand region. Civilian setup has been restored there. Pakistan army is also helping civilians to resettle themselves in these regions. All the shops, bazaars, and schools have been reopened. This has happened only because of the Pakistan army’s support.
Q: Sometimes we receive reports that some terrorists have entered the Iranian territory from the Pakistani border regions and carried out some terrorist acts. What measures have been taken by the Pakistani government to prevent such acts?
A: These terrorists, you know, have no borders. They have been entering Afghanistan from Pakistan and from Afghanistan to Pakistan and sometime terrorists also enter Iran from Pakistan and vice versa. Pakistani government has arrested many terrorists and handed them over to the Iranian authorities. Now terrorists are aware that there is not a safe place for them in Pakistan. But again Pakistan has really big mountainous area, thick jungles, and you don’t know that some (terrorists) might be still there.
Q: About Kashmir if you could comment. What are the chances of the revival of peace talks between India and Pakistan? And sometimes we do not hear much about Kashmir. Why is that?
A: Kashmir is an issue right from the beginning -- the time Pakistan was created in 1947 -- because it has been undecided territory. The Muslim people living there were denied the right to determine their future -- either they want to live with Pakistan or with India, the right was given to the United Indian Muslims living in other parts of the country. This issue sometimes become very active and sometimes stays inactive depending on the changing regional and international scenarios.
Q: Iran has good relations with Pakistan as well as with India, so has there been any request made to Iran to mediate in the Kashmir issue?
A: This is a very good suggestion and we will work on it. We will consult with the ministry of foreign affairs and we will also seek consent of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that if he is willing to mediate between India and Pakistan in Kashmir issue.
Q: Pakistan has a long porous border with Afghanistan. Sometimes the Afghan officials accuse Pakistan that some of the terrorists have entered in their territory from Pakistan. What has the government of Pakistan done in this regard?
A: Pakistan is fighting a war against terrorists. Terrorists are on the run. Sometimes these terrorists run toward Afghanistan and sometimes they run toward Iran. So sometimes Afghanistan accuses us and sometimes Iran accuses us.
Q: It is true that Pakistan is fighting against the terrorism and it has also made certain gains and achieved some success, but we hear that the United States sometime blame Pakistan that it is not doing enough to fight the terrorists.
A: This accusation we receive from many sides. We get this accusation from Iran, from Afghanistan and now also from the Americans.
The U.S. is also not successful in controlling terrorism in Afghanistan. This is not an easy war; this is not an open war. Recently the United States however has also appreciated Pakistan’s role in war against terrorists.