Shafaqna Pakistan: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi carried messages from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir to the Iranian leadership during his recent visit to Tehran, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday, describing the trip as part of Pakistan’s regular diplomatic exchanges.
FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Naqvi’s visit also covered bilateral relations, security matters, regional developments and efforts to promote peace and stability.
Naqvi held meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. Andrabi said the visit provided an opportunity to discuss regional security, stability and constructive engagement among countries in the region.
“I will not share the details of what exactly was the message, but this is essentially in the context of peace efforts,” Andrabi said at the weekly media briefing. He added that Pakistan would continue using direct and indirect channels to address spoilers and facilitate constructive dialogue on outstanding issues.
The spokesperson said Naqvi’s meetings with Iranian officials also had a bilateral dimension, particularly given his responsibilities as interior minister.
Commenting on future talks, he said that an invitation to Iran’s foreign minister and parliament speaker has been extended by Pakistan. “We are expecting the visit on mutually convenient dates in the future. If talks on the wider peace process in Islamabad are to take place, this can take place as and when the parties wish to have such a dialogue,” he said.
For the time being, there are talks going on between Oman and Iran, and brotherly countries are supporting them. “We have also supported it. An agreement on the Strait of Hormuz is very important, as it will catalyse the larger agreement and implementation of the peace process agreed in Burgenstock. So, we all look for an amicable settlement of the ongoing standoff on the Strait of Hormuz as a catalyst for future progress in peace process. This is extremely important that the brotherly countries are engaged and are supportive of it. The larger peace process, the direct talks or the technical-level talks is stalled, but we hope that it will resume soon,” he added.
The reason for Pakistan’s optimism, pointed out the spokesperson, is that as a mediator and facilitator of talks, it remains optimistic that a solution can be in sight. After various cycles in this conflict, the parties have resorted to talks after escalation – there have been periods of heightened escalation, followed by relative calm and eventual dialogue. This is the natural progression of any armed conflict of international significance.
To a query regarding bringing the Makkah Agreement to parliament as was done in the past when a decision was made not to send troops to Yemen by parliament, the spokesperson responded that in the Government of Pakistan’s Rules of Procedure, there is a certain procedure laid out for the signing of agreements and MoUs, and this power (to conclude agreement) is retained by the executive.
“I can tell you that all internal procedures were followed before the signing of this agreement, and all procedures in the follow-up to this agreement will be followed. The prime minister is the signatory; he is the Leader of the House; he is the Leader of the National Assembly. The deputy prime minister and foreign minister is also the leader of the House and member of the Senate. So, there is no question of not taking any stakeholders into consultation. This is an agreement which is in accordance with the wishes of the people of Pakistan,” he said.
Source: The News
