Khatami in Pakistan

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Source: BBC

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has arrived in Islamabad on a landmark three-day state visit to Pakistan.
It is the first visit by an Iranian leader since the fall of the Taleban regime in neighbouring Afghanistan a year ago, and is viewed as a watershed in relations between the two states.
It is also President Khatami’s first ever visit to Pakistan.
After receiving a red carpet welcome, the Iranian leader was whisked away from the airport in Islamabad for talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
He is also due to meet the country’s newly- elected Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

US influence

Officials say that talks between the two sides are expected to focus on the regional situation, particularly Iraq and tension between India and Pakistan.
Also on the agenda will be a $3.5 billion oil pipeline that Iran wants to run from its oil fields through Pakistan and into India.
Officially, Iran and Pakistan have always described their relations as extremely cordial and brotherly.
But beneath the surface tension and mistrust remained in the past decade, mainly because of their divergent stand over the Taleban in Afghanistan.
Since Pakistan dumped the Taleban last year and joined the US-led military action to install a broad-based administration in Kabul, relations between Tehran and Islamabad have somewhat improved.
One factor that is still a cause of uneasiness is their opposite view on the growing American influence in the region.

Mediation role

Pakistan is a close ally of the United States and has even provided bases for American troops to carry out military strikes in Afghanistan.
Iran, on the other hand, is one of the states regarded by President Bush as the “axis of evil”.
Senior Foreign Ministry officials say the US role in the region, particularly the situation in Afghanistan, will be high on the agenda of discussions between the leaders of the two countries.
President Khatami is being accompanied by several top officials and the two countries are expected to sign a number of agreements to improve trade and commerce.
The pipeline is the key trade issue. Pakistan supports the project, but says improved relations with India would make it more feasible.
President Musharraf has indicated he may like the Iranian leader to play a role in defusing tension between India and Pakistan and to help initiate a dialogue between the two countries.

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Its a pretty historic visit it seems. Very high-ranking delegation accomompanying President Khatami, as reported by the Iranian media…

http://www.irna.com/en/hphoto/021222000000.ehp.shtml

Khatami leaves Tehran for Islamabad

President Mohammad Khatami, heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, left Tehran for Islamabad on a three-day official visit, for talks on regional and bilateral issues, focussing on promoting economic ties. Khatami was officially seen off at Mehrabad International Airport here by First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Aref.

Iranian president is on his first tour of Pakistan at the invitation of Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf. Iranian Ministers of Foreign Affairs Kamal Kharrazi, Road and Transportation Ahmad Khorram as well as Minister of Defense Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani are accompanying the President on his official visit. Khatami here on Sunday called on the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prior to his visit to Pakistan.

At the meeting, the Supreme Leader wished success for President
Khatami during the visit. President Khatami will hold wide-ranging talks with his Pakistani counterpart General Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. The President will later proceed to the eastern city of Lahore for a one-day visit. In Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, the Iranian President will meet Pakistani traders to discuss ways to promote economic relations. He will also speak to the citizens of Lahore and will visit historical places there.

Political observers say President Khatami’s visit will further strengthen brotherly relations between the two Islamic neighboring countries. It is expected that several agreements and MoUs will be signed during President Khatami’s visit to Pakistan. The Iranian President will be accorded rousing welcome on his arrival in Islamabad. Pakistani Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Mahmoomd Kasuri and other senior officials will receive President Khatami at Islamabad airport. Later, President General Pervez Musharraf will receive the Iranian President at the “Aiwan-e-Sadr” where he will be given a state welcome.

The two presidents, accompanied by their senior aides will hold talks on matters of mutual interest. The Pakistani president will also host a state banquet in honor of President Khatami. Official talks between the two sides will be held on Tuesday. The two delegations to the talks will be led by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and President Khatami. The talks will focus on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as regional issues of common concern especially Indo-Pak relations, Kashmir and
Afghanistan.

President Khatami will deliver a speech on his concept of Dialogue Among Civilizations' at the National Liberty in Islamabad before an audience composed of diplomats, intellectuals, writers and opinion makers at the Institute of Strategic Studies of Islamabad (ISSI) on December 24. President Khatami's proposal was widely appreciated and the year 2001 was subsequently declared Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations’.

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Beginning of a new era b/w Iran and Pakistan. :k:

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yea....Mush gave him the Nishan-e-Pakistan
its the highest civil award....i think!

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Relations b/w Pakistan and Iran will show brotherhood of Sunnahs and Shiates.

[thumb=A]_38623617_khatmai300.JPG[/thumb]
Khatami, Musharraf and Jamali

***President Khatami (l) will discuss a range of issues ***

Iran and Pakistan: A New Beginning

President Muhammad Khatami of Iran is in Islamabad for three days of talks with Pakistani leaders.

It is the first such visit to Pakistan by any head of state since the civilian government was formed there in November.

The main items on the agenda are expected to include the situation in their mutual neighbour Afghanistan, tensions between India and Pakistan, the possible war in Iraq, and a major pipeline project.

This is a visit that simply could not have taken place until quite recently. Media in both countries have hailed it as a landmark event in their mutual relations.

**New Era **

During the years of strife in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan were effectively waging a proxy war, with Islamabad supporting the Taleban and Tehran backing the Northern Alliance.

But all that changed after 11 September 2001 and the subsequent downfall of the Taleban.

Now, both countries back the new government in Kabul, and their mutual relations have eased considerably.

In fact, on the eve of Mr Khatami’s visit and the first anniversary of the Kabul government, Iran and Pakistan joined Afghanistan’s other four neighbours in signing a solemn pledge never again to interfere in Afghan affairs.

With the focus now shifting west, to the potential conflict in another of Iran’s neighbours, Iraq, the Iranians are eager to stabilise relationships along their eastern front.

“In this sensitive situation, we should try to expand relations, including in the political, economic and security fields,” President Khatami said shortly before setting off on his trip.

**Mediation **

One major project that could help achieve that, and generate much regional prosperity, is the scheme to export some of Iran’s vast natural gas reserves to India, via a new, $3.5 bn pipeline that would run through Pakistan.

Iran has the world’s second-biggest gas reserves after Russia, and is keen to reach the Indian market as soon as possible.

Many possible routes have been studied, including an under-sea pipeline, but the most economical option would be the overland pipe across Pakistan.

The problem, of course, is the acute tension between India and Pakistan, focused on disputed Kashmir.

The Pakistani leader, General Musharraf, has said **Islamabad favours the pipeline project and would guarantee its security, but only Iran could persuade India to let it run through Pakistan. **

“We expect that Iran will convince India to accept the security guarantees furnished by Pakistan, because we cannot convince Delhi ourselves,” General Musharraf told the Iranian state news agency IRNA.

President Khatami is to visit India in a month’s time, a trip that is bound to fuel speculation about Iranian mediation between the sub-continental rivals.

**Trade **

As Iran enjoys improving relations with both parties, General Musharraf said the Iranians might be in a position to promote talks between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute.

On bilateral matters, the Pakistanis have made it clear that they would like to improve their trade imbalance with Iran.

General Musharraf said Pakistan was importing much larger quantities of Iranian oil than before - worth between $100m and $500m - and wanted to offset this by selling more rice and wheat to Iran.

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Man of Democracy and Military dude, together! :wink:

Khatami Visit a Turning Point

ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: The three-day official visit of President Seyed Mohammad Khatami to Pakistan that begins on Monday signals a promising turning point in Pakistan-Iran relations soured by Islamabad’s pre-9/11 Afghan policy.

Khatami’s visit to Pakistan, his first ever, has been long overdue. President Pervez Musharraf had extended an invitation to him during his visit to Tehran in November 1999. One explanation given by the Iranians for the ‘belated’ visit is that Khatami being a **“man of democracy” was reluctant to engage with a military regime. ** :wink:

Incidentally, **Iran was the first country that President Musharraf paid a visit to after taking over as the country’s chief executive. A fact reflective of the priority and importance Islamabad attaches to its ties with its neighbour. **

Khatami’s current visit is an outcome of joint efforts by Islamabad and Tehran to improve their relationship that had been strained through the 90s, largely due to the policy differences over Afghanistan. The 9/11 terror attacks and subsequent fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan paved the way for mending of bilateral ties. In the last three years a series of high-level bilateral visits have been exchanged between the two countries to improve trade and defence-related cooperation.

In June this year,** Iran’s top National Security Adviser Hassan Ruhani led a high-powered delegation to Pakistan. More recently, President Pervez Musharraf had a meeting with President Khatami on the sidelines of the 7th ECO Summit in Istanbul on Oct 14. **

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s foreign secretary visited Tehran as part of preparations for the bilateral consultations. **The Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission met in Islamabad last week after two and-a-half years. **

Iranian and Pakistani officials remain hopeful that relations would normalise and return to “the good old times” or get even better.

“Wherever Khatami goes there is a turning point,” :eek: said Tehrani, the Press Counsellor at the Iranian Embassy here, referring to the promise Khatami’s visit holds for bilateral relations.

To begin with, the two governments will sign three agreements to boost trade and expand cooperation in areas of science and technology and agriculture.

Emphasizing the need to further bilateral cooperation, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri aptly observed: “We have spent more than 50 years on photo opportunity and now we should take concrete steps to promote economic ties.” Clearly, the goodwill that exists between the two countries does not reflect in the current Pakistan-Iran trade volume.

Rafsanjani was the last Iranian head of state to visit Pakistan in 1992.

Khatami’s visit is the first by any Iranian head of state after Pakistan became the frontline state in the US-led anti-terror campaign. Also, the first after Pakistan’s close ally, the United States, dubbed Iran as the “axis of evil” along with Iraq and North Korea.

The fact that Khatami’s visit comes on the heels of US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca’s visit to Pakistan, it is likely to raise questions regarding the presence of US forces on Pakistani borders that has been an irritant in Pakistan-Iran relations.

Similarly, Pakistan’s concern regarding the North-South Corridor that Iran wants to establish with India and Russia is also expected to be addressed by the leadership of both the countries The question of Muslims and Islamic countries being made the prime target in the ongoing global campaign against terrorism is likely to figure in the talks between the two sides.

**Pakistani leadership has expressed the hope that Iran would play a key role in bringing India to the negotiating table to address the core issue of Kashmir. Iranians who now feel that a time has come to resolve the Kashmir issue seem willing to act as the mediator. Pakistan has also pinned hopes on Iran for further improving its relations with Afghanistan. **

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri even conveyed this to the Iranian foreign minister during their meeting in Bonn and the latter had responded to it positively.

Undoubtedly, Washington after having recently declared its suspicions about Iran’s engagement in a secret nuclear weapons programme, will be closely watching Khatami’s visit to Pakistan. Khatami discarded Washington’s nuclear fears the other day as **“complete nonsense”. **

The Iranian president had recently described the United States and Afghanistan’s Taliban as “the two blades of a very dangerous pair of scissors” tarnishing Islam. One blade is the Islam of the Taliban, while the other is trying to impose war, hatred, animosity and imperialism on the whole world under the pretext of fighting the Islam of Taliban," Khatami had observed.

Iranians claim they have had more experience of the US government’s “self-serving policies”. They insist time has come for Iran, Pakistan, China and India to unite. Pointing to their geographic and strategic location one Iranian diplomat argued: **“We have the basic resources, the industry and the atomic power so where is the danger?” **

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How ironic for Jamali that he is greeting Irani premiere.

Balochs and Persians do not get along very well in Iran. Iran, like Pakistan is known to opress its Balochi minority.

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Always great news to hear that Iranians could have better relations with us. Let the hate monger writhe and twist in misery, for Pakistan will always pursue better relations with our brothers to the west.

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MSLA AMIL KA
AMIL KITNA HO GHA…
KAHSH PAK OR IRAN MIL KAR KOCH KARAIN ISS KHITAY KAY LIYEH
PAR KAHN…
HAR 1 KI AAPNI AAPNI MAJBORIYAN HAIN
PEHLAY TALIABN THAY IRAN TALIBAN KA KEHTA TAH KEH PAKSIATN TALIBAN KO SPORT KAR RAHA HAI AAB TU KOI BAHAN NEHI HONA CHIYEH
:fraudia:

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by RajputFury: *
Always great news to hear that Iranians could have better relations with us. Let the hate monger writhe and twist in misery, for Pakistan will always pursue better relations with our brothers to the west.
[/QUOTE]
The only hate monger here is you and your friend DILJELEY.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Imdad Ali: *
The only hate monger here is you and your friend DILJELEY.
[/QUOTE]

How weaker can your responses be? Are you completely devoid of original thought beyond twisting my words? Apparently not.

Your not Pakistani, in fact you hate Pakistanis, why do you care if our PM who happens to be Balochi meets President Khatami? He doesn't need your permission or approval. Like I said writhe and twist in misery because its all downhill from now on.

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Pakistan’s ties with Glorious Iran have been getting stronger and stronger in recent months and years, especially since we now have a common position on Afghanistan. Historic accords have been signed in all areas - economic, trade, transport and defence. As President Khatami said:-

“We have common causes and common faith, shared goals and objectives. There is nothing between Iran and Pakistan that couldn’t be resolved through negotiations. We look to the future, a bright future in which Iran and Pakistan can help each other.”

I read somewhere that Iran and Pakistan are to have joint military exercises soon, which is another major step in building ever stronger ties. Especially notable is how President Khatami came to Pakistan’s defence over the nuclear issue. Khatami against pressure on Pak
N-programme](Daily Jang: Urdu News - Latest Breaking News update Pakistan - jang.com.pk)

P.S. No amount of envy and jealousy by Pakistan-haters will stop the Pakistan and Iran getting ever closer. Such people will just burn away, regardless. :slight_smile:

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by RajputFury: *

How weaker can your responses be? Are you completely devoid of original thought beyond twisting my words? Apparently not.

Your not Pakistani, in fact you hate Pakistanis, why do you care if our PM who happens to be Balochi meets President Khatami? He doesn't need your permission or approval. Like I said writhe and twist in misery because its all downhill from now on.
[/QUOTE]

I am not Pakistani now? :D Problems of old age are affecting you already it seems.

And why do I care? Becuase thigns like that matter in Pakistan, something you do not know much about. Jamali may lose some support back in Balochistan, especially if he did not bring up the question of treatment of Balochis in Iran.

You are disattached from Pakistan and do not know local politics.

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Iran, Pakistan for Boost ties.

Iran and Pakistan Boost Ties

[thumb=A]_38627889_khatami300ap.JPG[/thumb]
President Khatami & Pakistan PM Jamali

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is boosting business and cultural ties at the conclusion of a landmark visit to Pakistan.
At the end of a three-day visit, the president is in the historic city of Lahore close to the Indian border.

During his visit Mr Khatami said he was willing to help reduce tension between India and Pakistan.

He said that a $3.5bn pipeline carrying Iranian gas through Pakistan to India could bring prosperity to all three countries - but not without peace and security in the region.

On Tuesday, the two countries signed agreements related to trade and boosting co-operation in defence, science and technology.

President Khatami also raised the issue of Tehran’s planned nuclear power plant, which the United States fears could be used to develop atomic weapons.

Controversy

In Lahore, the Iranian leader is to meet business leaders and also visit the mausoleum of Pakistan’s national poet, Mohammad Iqbal.

But Islamic religious parties accused the Pakistan government of changing the venue of a civic reception to prevent ordinary citizens from meeting President Khatami.

The religious parties, which are regarded as having close ties to the Iranian clerics, had planned a public gathering at the Minar-e-Pakistan, a monument built to commemorate the creation of Pakistan.

But the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamic party, accused the government of changing the venue to stop public entry.

“That would have sent a more powerful message of support for the Islamic people of Iran which the Pakistan Government wants to suppress,” Jamaat leader, Ameerul Azeem, told the BBC.

**India **

During his visit President Khatami said he had personally intervened when India and Pakistan were on the brink of war earlier this year, and he was determined to continue his efforts.

“We want to do everything to remove tensions and promote peace on both sides,” he said.

President Khatami avoided talking about past differences between Iran and Pakistan on the Taleban, and said the two countries were now committed to reconstruction efforts in neighbouring Afghanistan.

President Khatami’s three-day visit is the first by an Iranian leader since the fall of the Taleban, and is viewed as a watershed in relations between Iran and Pakistan.

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Sure, why wouldn’t he? Afterall, Pakistan is backing N-Program for Iran. :wink:

Pakistan steps in as Russia Backs Away from Nuclear Cooperation with Iran

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Imdad Ali: *
Jamali may lose some support back in Balochistan, especially if he did not bring up the question of treatment of Balochis in Iran.
[/quote]

Balochis in Iran? Now, that's what I'd really like to know about from Mr. Local Politics Expert.

Would you like to share your worth source about it?

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I am not Pakistani now? :smiley: Problems of old age are affecting you already it seems.

Wow another clever one liner :rolleyes: Being Pakistani is choice and if you fail to grasp the logic, then don’t bother explaining your baseless rhetoric. Your statements have been continously anti-Pakistani, how can refute that?

And why do I care? Becuase thigns like that matter in Pakistan, something you do not know much about. Jamali may lose some support back in Balochistan, especially if he did not bring up the question of treatment of Balochis in Iran.

Those things matter in quarters that share your views, which is a small and hopefully shrinking minority. If Jamali loses support in Baluchistan, then who cares? It’s obvious that he is a national politician who will not and should not be bound by any one province. We are moving away from province specific politics to the larger national arena.

**You are disattached from Pakistan and do not know local politics. **

Your right I do not care for local politics espicially ones that involve petty issues. If Jamali brings up the Irani Baloch treatment, what do you think is going to happen?? Do you expect Khatami to say “oh I am sorry, we’ll never do anything bad again”?? Be realistic! Besides our record in Baluchistan still needs to be improved so we’d rather make sure we have done all we can before we step out bringing up these issues and looking like hypocrites. You have consistantly failed to grasp the geo-political ramifications, because of your inherent biases for certain ethnic groups. The difference between you and me is that I want to see all of Pakistan developed, not just certain parts.

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Something I really wanted to happen. And finally, it did. :slight_smile:

Iran-Pakistan To Increase Economic Cooperation

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Dec 26 (PNS) - **Ahmad Khorram, Co-Chairman of Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission and Iranian Minister for Transport on Tuesday said that President Khatami’s visit after a period of ten years would be a turning point in raising economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries. **

He stated this in a meeting with Shaukat Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs.

Besides discussing substantial issues pertaining to increase trade, economic cooperation, communication network and involvement of private sector in promotion of economic cooperation the meeting also reviewed revival of ECO to promote economic cooperation at bilateral and regional level.

Prime Minister’s Advisor on Finance Shaukat Aziz, in this regard, proposed a meeting in Iran of Pakistan, Iran and Turkish Finance, Foreign Affairs and Commerce Ministers to identify areas of cooperation for promoting economic relations among the ECO member countries.

Ahmad Khorram, the Iranian Minister for Transport said that expeditious implementation of three agreements and MoU that are being signed today in the field of custom, trade, science and technology and other areas of mutual interest could realize the trade and economic potential between the two countries.

The two sides also identified oil and gas, setting up of refineries, energy and communication sectors as areas of future cooperation between Pakistan and Iran. The two sides, also agreed, that the communication and transport sector needed to be given priority to link Iran and Pakistan with Central Asia and the Europe.

**In this regard, Iranian side stated that Iran was in the process of completing the needed work of optic fiber in three months to connect Iran with Central Asia, Turkey and the Gulf countries.

Similarly, Iran was upgrading its rail links from Kirman to Zahidan and from Zahidan to Taftan to establish an effective railway link with Pakistan, which in turn would connect Pakistan with the Europe. Iran was also upgrading its railway links from Khurram.**

Sahahar, Basra and Syria linking it with Turkey to provide an effective railway link for promoting trade with Europe. This trans-Asia railway corridor would also facilitate intra-country travel by citizens of respective countries to promote friendship and understanding.

Shaukat Aziz, the co-Chairman of Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission and Prime Minister’s Advisor on Finance emphasized the need for increased economic and trade relations to realize their full potential between the two countries to institutionalize it through Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission.

The two sides also reviewed ways and means to rationalize the border trade and further increase the economic cooperation in textile and agriculture fields.

The Iranian side evinced interests in import of automobile spare parts from Pakistan and tapping potential in automobile sector.

**Pakistan side informed the Iranian guest that the Gwadar Deep Sea Port, which is likely to be complete in 2004, could benefit Iran to establish linkages between the two countries to promote trade. **

Similarly, coastal highway being developed by Pakistan would have effective networking of optic fiber, which could be linked to Iran for effective communication network.

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good stuff :k:

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Khatami to Musharraf: Sort out Shia-Sunni strife first

Khatami to Musharraf: Sort out Shia-Sunni strife first
18.27 IST 25th Dec 2002

By IndiaExpress Bureau

Iranian President Syed Muhammad Khatami on Tuesday administered an indirect rebuff to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf by drawing the latter’s attention to the sectarian violence ravaging Pakistan.

Mr. Khatami was of the firm view that sectarian strife, including the one between Shias and Sunnis in Pakistan was the bane of the region.

The Iranian President, on a three-day visit to Pakistan, also urged India and Pakistan to sort out their differences in the interest of regional economic development.

Mr. Khatami said he condemned atrocities not only against Muslims but also against all human beings.

He was replying to a question at a joint press conference in Islamabad with Pakistan Premier Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on what Iran proposed to do to stop the communal attacks on Muslims in Gujarat.

“We are against any kind of brutalities and atrocities against human beings anywhere in the world especially when it happens against Muslims. No matter where they are, whether it is Palestine, India or anywhere,” he said.

**“The major problems we are facing in our region is sectarian violence and sectarian differences. We have to face this sinister phenomenon. **We should try to build a world where all people of the world can live in peace with different faiths and pursuits”, he said hinting obviously at large scale sectarian violence raging in Pakistan.