Iran: Pakistan’s Stability Is Extremely Important For Us

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said that the recent visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Pakistan marks a significant development in strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.

According to a report in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Express, Mottaki accused foreign powers of creating differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims in the region. He said that the stability of Pakistan is extremely important for Iran.

According to the report, Mottaki said that the need of the hour is to forge unity among Muslims and Islamic nations. The Iranian foreign minister made the statement during a meeting with a delegation comprising of religious leaders from Pakistan.

President Ahmadinejad met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Islamabad on April 28. According to a report in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jasarat, Ahmadinejad offered 100MW of electricity to Pakistan and finalized the details of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.

According to the report, the Iranian and Pakistan presidents will put their signatures to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project sometime soon in Tehran.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that Pakistan wants to bolster its relations with Tehran irrespective of the U.S. pressure. According to a report in the Tehran Times, Senator Hussain said the new Pakistani government ‘‘is very interested in expansion of ties with Iran, all parties including the People's Party want to have relations with the Islamic Republic."

Senator Hussain is the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, and also the Secretary General of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) party that supported General (Ret.) Pervez Musharraf.

According to the report, Senator Hussain said: ‘‘We have very close ties with the U. S. but we will not compromise on important interests… [Pakistani] Nuclear program and relations with China and Iran are all to our national benefit.’’

Source: Roznama Express, Pakistan, May 7, 2008; Roznama Jasarat, Pakistan, April 29, 2008; Tehran Times, Iran, May 7, 2008

Emerging Crisis in Pakistan-U.S. Relations, Inquiry and Analysis Series - No. 449 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - June 20, 2008

Indian Clerics Conference Issues World's First Anti-Terror Fatwa, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1959 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - June 13, 2008

Editorial in Pakistan Right-Wing Urdu Daily Blames U.S., Afghanistan, India for Terrorism in Pakistan, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1881 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - March 28, 2008

Pakistani Taliban Emir Beitullah Mahsoud: Pakistan Should Use Its Nuclear Weapons to Challenge the Enemies; Only 5% of Fighters in Afghanistan Are Ours; "We Take Pride in Being Enemies of the Jews and Christians", Special Dispatch Series - No. 1941 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - May 27, 2008

Pakistan Takes Steps Towards Shari'a State In Seven Districts , Special Dispatch Series - No. 1933 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - May 16, 2008

Pakistani Columnist: Islam is NATO's Big Adversary After Cold War, Special Dispatch Series - No. 1932 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - May 16, 2008

Pakistan-Based Militant Group Lashkar-e-Islam Vows 'To Spread Islam Across the World', Special Dispatch Series - No. 1906 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - April 23, 2008

If you would like to donate by mail, please send check or money order to:
	MEMRI P.O. Box 27837 Washington DC 20038
Telephone: 202.955.9070 Email: donate@memri.org

View Blog Reactions

Add The MEMRI Blog to your personalized Google homepage.

Would you like to get in touch with us? Send an email to Blog@memri.org

 The MEMRI Feed

Egyptian blogger Abdelkareem Nabil Suleiman was arrested for allegedly "defaming the President of Egypt" and "highlighting inappropriate aspects the harm the reputation of Egypt" on his blog.

A petition calling for his release has been posted online by the HAMSA organization ("Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance"), an American Muslim association for promoting civil rights in the Middle East.

No to Violence	Terrorism Has No Religion

Visit www.noterror.info for more information.

As a reader of MEMRI, you are familiar with our continuing efforts to expand our work to monitor more media outlets in more countries, research more subjects, and translate into more languages.

At this crucial time, as the war on terror continues, with the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, and with reformists in the region needing help to make their voices heard, we are introducing The MEMRI Blog.

The MEMRI Blog is a new service, provided by The Middle East Media Research Institute, which will operate in conjunction with MEMRI.org, MEMRITV.org, and MEMRIFilms.org.

While MEMRI regularly provides translations from editorials and sermons, as well as expert analysis, The MEMRI Blog will specifically highlight brief NEWS ITEMS from Arabic, Persian, and Turkish language media sources.

Summaries are posted on the front page, but be sure to read the FULL ENTRY.