CPEC will benefit both Gwadar, Chabahar ports: Pak envoy to Iran

TEHRAN: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Asif Ali Durrani, in an interview with Iranian Student’s News Agency (ISNA), said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor will benefit both Gwadar and Chabahar ports.

When asked about the Gwadar and Chabahar ports, Durrani commented that both the ports complement each other and that the goal of the China-Pakistan corridor is to promote regional trade in South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.

He also said that Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project will be completed within the next two years. The project was halted due to the sanctions imposed on Iran, preventing investment in the region, but since sanctions had been lifted the work is in progress.

Durrani stressed that Pakistan will refrain from taking sides in a dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

According to Durrani, Pakistan wants “unity and peace” among Muslim countries and seeks to fight terrorism and extremist activities. He hopes that the neighbouring countries will resolve their problems through negotiations.

“It was in this spirit that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Iran last year with the view to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia. We sincerely hope that the two brotherly countries would be able to resolve their outstanding differences through dialogue.”

He further said, “We do not take sides on issues which may cause disunity between brothers. Our participation in the alliance is consistent with our policy of achieving unity among the Muslim countries.”

He remarked that an agreement had been made between President Rouhani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to improve economic relations and increase bilateral trade by $5 billion in the next five years. According to statistics issued by the Iranian government, bilateral trade had seen a surge of 28% in 2016-17.