President Asif Ali Zardari discusses trade with Mahmoud Ahmedinejad

President Asif Ali Zardari has discussed trade, investment and energy issues with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, rejecting the increasing international pressure to isolate Iran in the region.

The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the 16^th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), discussed the situation in Afghanistan and Syria, which could be construed as a symbolic move.

Afghanistan and Syria are two war threats where Islamabad’s perturbed ally, the United States plays a major role it’s especially wary of Iranian influence.

President Zardari also held meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmonov in the flourishes and diplomatic niceties of a leader-studded multilateral summit.

The focus of all the meetings was centered on more trade and regional integration and enhanced relations with neighboring countries.

According to an official statement, President Zardari and Ahmedinejad reaffirmed their commitment to complete work on several joint projects, including the multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, electricity transmission lines and road links.

It is vital to mention here that the US has been persistently making efforts to convince Islamabad to abandon the gas-pipeline-project, offering with various other gas projects originating from Central Asian states and passing through Afghanistan.

Pakistan, however, has appeared to defy the pressure up till now.

The statement said, “President Zardari said that the current volume of trade between the two countries is far below the existing potential and said there is a need to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers and identify alternative arrangements to expand the bilateral trade”.

It added that the two leaders also reviewed progress on the mega projects, including the IP gas pipeline, the 1,000MW Taftan-Quetta power transmission line, the 100MW Gwadar power supply project, construction of Noshki-Dalbandin section of Quetta-Taftan Highway and up-gradation of the Quetta-Taftan railway track.

Issues related to visa facilitation and opening of the new border posts to connect Karachi and Gawadar with Chah Bahar and Bandar Abbas through the coastal highway were also came under discussion in the bilateral meeting.

The duo leaders showed agreement in principle to operate new flights between Islamabad and Tehran, Peshawar and Mashhad, and Quetta and Gilgit to Mashhad.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=31865

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Aug 31 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.