Pak-Iran relations strong, work on CPEC in progress: Pakistan FO

Islamabad: Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch Friday said that the work on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is going on.

During the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, she stated that there are strong bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran, regional issues were discussed in the meeting between the leaders of Pakistan and Iran. There are strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

The spokesman added that during the visit of the Iranian president, the issue of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline was taken into consideration. This was also reflected in our joint declaration, Pakistan and Iran also discussed issues related to energy and electricity. We have seen the US statement and are in touch with the US for energy needs. Pakistan has its own important energy needs. There is cooperation between Pakistan and Iran on energy.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch further said that there should be an immediate end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Pakistan condemns the ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestine. There should be an international investigation into the genocide of Palestinian.

Spokesperson of the Foreign Office added that there is currently no news regarding the change in Pakistan-India trade policy and no person has been entrusted with any responsibility for relations with India. There are no backdoor talks for India-Pakistan trade

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed area, Pakistan and Iran have the same position on Kashmir and Gaza. There has been an extraordinary increase in the statements of India's occupation of Kashmir. Instead of spreading the confusion, India should follow the UN resolutions.

The spokesperson further said that Pakistan has rejected the human rights report issued by the US, Muslims are being targeted in India, appropriate procedures were not adopted in the preparation of this report, attacks against Muslims in India have increased.

Regarding US sanctions on ballistic missile component companies, Zahra stated that Pakistan has informed the US of its concern over the recent move, ‘We believe that the export control has become politicized’.