ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Reaza Amiri Moghaddam said that Pakistan and Iran’s bilateral relations have a resounding future and they have a great potential to achieve high goals in era of geo-economics.
Speaking at Islamabad Policy Research Institute’s Distinguished Lecture Series, titled ‘Diplomatic Reflections’ under the theme of Iran-Pakistan Relations, Reaza Amiri urged upon to tap all the sectors of talent.
Reaza Amiri said that the need of the hour is to convert borders from security centric prism to one dealing with trade and commerce while stressing on the brotherly ties of cordiality based on religion and geography.
He also pointed out that CPEC, and the development of Chahbahar Port in the south of Iran are interlinked in terms of commerce and development, and there is no element of conflict in it.
The envoy was candid as he said that both the countries do not have a territorial dispute and the disgruntled elements on the border areas must be tackled with a joint strategy while focusing on the potential of tourism, and border markets.
He also underscored the need for peace, especially in Afghanistan, and hinted that relationship with Pakistan is not in competition with any other country in the region.
Ambassador Reaza Amiri remarked that a new World Order is emerging, and was assured that it is going to have multiple poles of power. He talked about the SCO and BRICS as new realities, and said that the myth of military dominance is eroding.
He noted that culture and politics are making inroads in state-centric relations, and there is no looking back in building a new paradigm of multilateralism.
He forcefully negated the impression that fossil fuels are coming to an end, and the new technology will be free from oil and gas. Whereas, he added that the demand of fossil fuels is on the rise, and prices will also keep going up as there is demand for the utilities.
He stressed for greater cooperation between 400 million people of Iran, Turkey and Pakistan in realising the ECO, and said that it is the gateway to Europe and beyond in terms of people to people contacts, trade and tourism.
Reaza Amiri noted that despite so much of efforts the volume of trade between the two countries is dismal. Presently, the trade is lesser than $2 billion, and estimates say that it should be somewhere around $5 billion.
He underscored the need for fighting extremism, and observed that Western culture and their attitude of upholding man-made laws over divine teachings is at the root-cause of sacrilegious acts.
President IPRI Amb. Dr Raza Muhammad welcomed the chief guest and hoped that cooperation in terms research will be a hallmark in times to come. He was receptive to the idea of more interaction among scholars and researchers to harness renewed studies and cooperation.
