ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected the claims that the issue of Indian spy agency’s involvement in Pakistan was discussed during his meeting with the country’s leadership, DawnNews reported.
President Rouhani said this while addressing a press conference in the federal capital before his return on Saturday.
He was replying to a question regarding the claims made earlier by the Pakistani government about discussing the issue of Research and Analysis Wing’s (RAW) involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs with the Iranian president.
Rouhani denied having such a discussion and said, “Whenever Iran comes closer to Pakistan such rumours are spread.”
During the meetings, he said, the two sides held wide ranging discussions for cooperation in the areas of trade, economy and energy as well as the regional and international issues of mutual interest.
RAW uses Iran’s soil against Pakistan, Gen Raheel to Rouhani
The director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, shared the text of General Raheel Sharif’s meeting with the Iranian president.
“There is one concern that RAW is involved in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan, and sometimes it also uses the soil of our brother country Iran,” read the text of meeting shared by Bajwa.
During the meeting with the Iranian president, Gen Raheel reportedly asked Rouhani to tell them [RAW] that “they should stop these activities and allow Pakistan to achieve stability”, Bajwa tweeted.
Earlier, the military’s media wing had claimed that General Raheel Sharif discussed the issue of RAW’s involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs with the Iranian president.
The army chief while highlighting the challenges being faced by Pakistan, discussed the alleged involvement of RAW in Pakistani affairs, especially in Balochistan, the ISPR statement had claimed.
Bridging the gap
About Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, President Rouhani said Iran had almost completed the work on its side of border on the pipeline and would be in a position to provide gas to Pakistan in a few months. “It was now up to Pakistan to initiate work on its side,” he added.
He said Iran could meet all the energy needs of Pakistan. The country was already selling 1,000MW electricity to Pakistan, which could be increased up to 3,000 MW.
Rouhani said Iran was also interested to have connectivity between Gawadar and Chahbahar seaports through roads and shipping lines for a win-win situation to both the countries.
