Gas pipeline project: 'US should not pressurise Pakistan, Iran'

Iranian Consulate General, Muhammad Hussain Bani Asadi has said the US should not pressurise Pakistan and Iran on gas pipeline project. He was addressing a conference on "Pakistan's Internal and External Security: Challenges and Options" organised by Department of Political Science, Punjab University in collaboration with Centre for South Asian Studies on Thursday.
Asadi said that the US intervention in the region had created problems, adding that US must not pressurise Pakistan and Iran on gas pipeline project. He further said that security of Pakistan and Iran was interlinked and both the countries should promote economic, cultural, social and academic relations. Both countries should adopt confidence building measures help each other in maintaining peace in the region.
Addressing the conference political analyst Professor Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi said that Pakistan was facing problems since its inception but now the security situation was more complex. He said that Pakistan had attracted more foreign attention as transition was taking place in the region. Internal problems were more important than external threats, he added.
Rizvi said that intolerance, extremism and militancy were big challenges being faced by the country. The country should resolve its internal problems as quickly as possible, he said, adding that Pakistan was needed to expand its foreign relations and should increase ties with Russia.
There was a need for expanding economic relations in the region, he said, adding that Pakistan would have to improve its image in the world, he added. Vice Chancellor Bahauddin Zikarya University Professor Dr Khawaja Alqma seconded the thoughts of Professor Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi and said that Pakistan should work on image building for better foreign relations.
Vice Chancellor Gomal University Professor Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi said that three vice chancellors were facing life threats in Balochistan while one was shot dead the other was kidnapped. He said that internal threats were more dangerous than external threats. "We must reduce our dependency on the US as it cannot see any Muslim country grow stronger," he said.
Addressing the conference, Dr Mujahid Kamran said that the fundamental problem of the world was not terrorism but those people who control US to set up a new world order, a one world government under the control of the wealthiest families on the planet.
Vice Chancellor Punjab University Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran, Vice Chancellor Bahauddin Zikarya University Professor Dr Khawaja Alqama, Vice Chancellor Gomal University Professor Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi, Chairperson Department of Political Science Professor Dr Umbreen Javed, intellectuals, defence analysts and a large number of students attended the seminar.