Musharraf Stresses Relations with Iran and AfghanistanPakistan's Chief Executive General Parvez Musharraf said Friday that good relations with Iran and Afghanistan are in Pakistan's security interests.He made the remarks while delivering a speech enunciating his views on Pakistan's Foreign Policy at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA). The chief executive identified five determinants which shapes the foreign policy of Pakistan, including Security of Pakistan, its economic interests, international concerns including CTBT, its own ideological interests and upholding of principles on issues like Kashmir with which, he said, "we are concerned since our independence." Speaking about Pakistan's security concerns, General Musharraf said that Pakistan must avoid two-front threat. "We are extremely concerned about happenings in Afghanistan because we have to avoid a two-front threat," he said. He said Pakistan's relations with Iran have changed. They are certainly very good now. "We have understanding. We have spoken very frankly and I have spoken extremely frankly with Iranian president and, I and he realized each other's concerns. our relations with Iran are on strong footing now," he said. Emphasizing that Pakistan must have good relations with Afghanistan, he said that with Afghanistan one has to understand Pakistan's national security concerns and this must be made clear to every one, though not done earlier. He said no country in the world can force any other country to give up its national security interests. "This is our national security interest and, therefore, we have to accept this reality and then proceed further in resolving the issue bringing peace to Afghanistan and dealing with the issue of terrorism but the focus should be that we have Afghanistan on our side," he said |
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