ISLAMABAD - Iranian parliament Speaker Dr Ali Larijani Monday said that his country had nothing to do with convicted Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav as Tehran was committed not to allow anybody to use its soil against Pakistan.
Addressing a news conference here after attending a two-day six-nation Speakers’ Conference, Larijani said Jadhav was working as a businessman in Chabahar, and Iran did not know that he was spying for India.
“This is an issue between Pakistan and India. Iran has nothing to do with it. Iran remains committed to friendship with Pakistan,” he said.
On Monday, Pakistan had organised a “family reunion” for Kulbushan Jadhav. The Indian spy was arrested last year in the Balochistan province for spying and stoking terrorism and sectarianism in the country. Islamabad has also handed over dossiers to the UN regarding Jadhav’s confessional statement.
Larijani said Iran had historical ties with Pakistan and desired to take the relationship further for the betterment of both the nations.
To a question, the Iranian speaker said US President Donald Trump was playing with terrorism instead of fighting to defeat the menace.
“The US is especially creating problems for the Muslims. They are not serious in fighting terrorism,” he added.
Larijani said he had discussed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and was optimistic that the project would be completed soon.
He said Iran was against all kinds of terrorism in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria or other Muslim-majority countries. “The US has created Daesh to target the Muslims. We need to get united to face these challenges,” the Iranian speaker added.
Larijani said Afghanistan issue was very complex and needed time for resolution. “All the Muslim nations should help resolve this problem,” he said.
The Iran parliament speaker said Iran attached value to its relations with Pakistan and other Muslim-majority countries. “We even give importance to ties with Saudi Arabia but we believe they are not following the right path,” he maintained.
Larijani said Iran had entered Iraq to fight terrorism on the invitation of the Iraqi government. “We helped Iraqi forces and achieved success against Daesh,” he said.
The Iranian speaker said there was a plot in Syria to disrupt peace and stability of the country in favour of the Zionist regime and the US.
He said that Iran intervened in Syria on the invitation of the Syrian government. “Russia joined us later but the US has set up bases in Syria to help terrorists,” Larijani contended.
To a question, he said the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and claimed to root out terrorism and drug trafficking but the reality was that the poppy production had increased to 45 per cent and terrorism was flourishing in Afghanistan.
Larijani said Iran never liked any Muslim-majority country to have relations with Israel because this would damage the Ummah.
He recalled that Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Juberi himself admitted they were trying to improve ties with Israel, adding: “This will influence the credibility of Saudi Arabia.”
Larijani said President Trump had been defeated in the UN on the Jerusalem issue. “Even the non-Muslims supported the Muslims’ point of view. The US is just trying to corner the Muslims,” he asserted.
The Iranian speaker said Iran and Pakistan were cooperating in all areas, including enhancing cooperation between Chabahar and Gwadar ports.
He said there was a proposal to declare Chabahar and Gwadar sister ports and for this Pakistan and Iran needed to enhance connectivity between the two ports.
Larijani said army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s visit to Iran was very successful, which helped enhance cooperation between the two neighbours. “Our ties with India do not mean that we give no importance to Pakistan. We want to have good relations with all the neighbours,” he said.
Earlier, at the Speakers’ Conference, Larijani urged China and Pakistan to join its joint counter-terrorism campaign with Russia and Turkey.
