Pakistan is engaged with Iran to curb cross border terrorism: FM Qureshi

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday said Pakistan has positively engaged with Iran to curb the cross border movement of militant elements.

The Foreign Minister said we have a long border of nine hundred and five kilometers with Iran and we want to keep it peaceful and stable.

He said there are certain elements including the regional spy agencies which are bent upon hurting this relationship by creating misunderstandings through their nefarious acts. He, however, said these sordid designs will be foiled through collective efforts.

The Foreign Minister said that Pakistan has taken a number of steps to raise the level of understanding and confidence between the two neighboring countries. He said we have decided to establish a joint border center as well as fence the border to curb the movement of militant elements.

The Foreign Minister said the statement made by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Iran was taken out of context. He said given the sensitivity involved, the opposition parties should not do politics on it.

About Punjab local government act, the Foreign Minister said our effort is to give more powers and financial autonomy to the local governments to address the problems of the people at the grass roots level.

On reforms in NAB, the Foreign Minister said the process of accountability must go ahead transparently. He said the people of this country want the corrupt elements brought to justice.

He said the government is ready to sit with the opposition for bringing reforms in the NAB. He, however, recalled that the PML (N) failed to bring reforms in the NAB in its five years tenure.