IRNA � Former Pakistani ambassador to Iran and Chairman of Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) strongly believes that minor differences in Iran-Pakistan ties will come and go, but the ties are so fundamental that will endure forever.


In an interview with IRNA, Khalid Mahmood, who was Pakistan ambassador to Iran during presidency of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani in Iran, made it clear that Pakistan doesn�t want and will never take any step which is not in the interest of Iran.

�Late president Hashemi Rafsanjani once said it is our duty to take care of this very important relationship and take action which further strengthens these ties and avoid those actions which dilute the relationship,� he noted.

He said, 'President Hashemi Rafsanjani always used to advise me that 'our destinies are tied together and all minor differences would disappear sooner or later and the only thing will remain there, is the deep friendship between the two people and two neighboring countries.'

The diplomat termed the demise of President Hashemi Rafsanjani as a big tragedy adding that he always tried to bring Islamic world together. �He was a very respectable leader of the Islamic world who had a balanced approach towards internal and external issues,� added the diplomat.

He revealed that whenever he asked for the meeting with President Rafsanjani he was always received warmly.

Former ambassador went on to say if there is an essential threat to Pakistan, Iran will support Pakistan and if there is such a threat to Iran, Pakistan will not listen to any other country like US and Saudi Arabia and will stand with Iran.

Khalid Mahmood added that when he went as the ambassador to Iran the relations between the two countries were under some strain, adding that it was a time of rise of Taliban and Pakistan and Iran had quite opposite positions on the issue.

Chairman of ISSI expressing his views said that problems existed at the time when he was the ambassador to Iran between the two countries but since then, the things have improved a lot.

He viewed the sectarian problem which arose from time to time between the countries is much under control.

He added that now both Iran and Pakistan have more cooperation on border management as compared to the past. 'I don�t say things are over but they have improved a lot,� Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said.

The diplomat viewed that external factors have affected the full flowering of the Iran-Pakistan ties. He said that no one can blame everything on sanctions because prior to sanctions the economic and trade ties between the two countries were not that much strong but there is a great potential for trade. �All mechanism is there but somehow things are not implemented,� he said.

He regretted that business community of both countries is inclined to do business with Europe or other Western countries instead of doing business with each other.

Former ambassador noted that Iran has assured Pakistan that its relations with India will not be at the cost of its friendly ties with Pakistan.

Expressing his views on US President Donald Trump he said the new US president is just playing with the emotions of the people. �Initially he is trying to show his people that he is doing exactly as what he had promised to his voters in the election campaign,� said the diplomat.

�Donald Trump is not implementing all the things which he had said during election campaign because in that case US will not be very powerful,� he viewed.

Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said, 'I don�t think there would be much change in Pak-US ties; Trump wants to have strong ties with India for many reasons; it is a big market and a rival to China. But I think Trump will not go hostile towards Pakistan. The people picked by him for his team have good knowledge of our region.
�Our first obligation is to protect our own country and still the situation is not fully under control and we need to deploy forces to eliminate terrorism. We want Islamic world to become stronger,� he added.