A roundtable/panel discussion on ‘Pakistan–Iran Relations: Challenges and Prospects,’ was organised by Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI) where the Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost said that Iran has never considered Gawadar to be a rival port for its Chahbahar. He said that Pakistan and Iran have no choice but to sit together and move forward on bilateral cooperation by setting aside the past misunderstandings. Talking about the unity among the Muslim countries, he said that Iran has always advocated greater cooperation and unity among the Muslim Ummah. Iran is not convinced with the estranged relationship with the Muslim countries and it wants cooperation and good ties with all the Muslim countries.
Both sides agreed that Pakistan can greatly benefit from the cheap gas being provided by Iran through the proposed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. Absence of banking channels has been a major hindrance in development of ties; therefore, a barter mechanism is under discussion for promoting bilateral trade.
Convener of Pak-Iran Friendship Group in Senate Lt Gen Abdul Qayyum (retd) said there should be efforts for developing direct air link between Islamabad and Tehran and bilateral trade even if through barter to avoid sanctions. Qayyum said Pakistan would never support aggression against Iran or its diplomatic isolation and economic strangulation.
