Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday said the US had never threatened Pakistan with sanctions over the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. Addressing a workshop on “Diplomatic Norms and Practices” at Foreign Service Academy in which a number of diplomatic correspondents were participating, she said the US officials had already rebuffed the reports of threatening. “Pakistan can never be selective as far as its energy need is concerned,” she said. When the foreign minister was asked what would be position of Pakistan if Iran was attacked, she said that any attack or war would be catastrophic for the region.
“And Pakistan would severely suffer, therefore, attack would neither take place nor can be allowed, it is clear.” To a question on US congressional hearing on Balochistan and a resolution in this connection, Hina said Washington perceived it as an internal issue of Pakistan. “The resolution was an individual act and as a member in our parliament has the right to introduce a resolution. Similarly the individual also had right,” she said, adding that the US administration was not supporting the resolution. Over the NATO supply, she said that the decision was with the parliament. To another question about a report claiming that General James Mattis would visit Pakistan within 10 days, she said, “Hope the joint parliamentary session would be convened within a week and let us see what happens, the US is also waiting for parliamentary review.” Hina said it was the biggest achievement of the government that it had empowered the parliament for foreign policy. Over the increased trade volume with EU and US as compare to the trade with regional countries, she said reaching out to the neighbours and the region was the topmost priority of the government but it never meant to lower trade with other parts of the world. She said relations with the regional country were being strengthened and Kabul was declared as the most important capital for Pakistan in the world. She said that relations with Russia were going well and a high-level delegation would hopefully visit Pakistan this year. To a question regarding Afghan strategic depth, she said Pakistan was not pursuing the policy of the strategic depth and it supported an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-driven reconciliation process. “Pakistan is committed to peace and stability in the country and the region,” the foreign minister said, adding that national interest was supreme and drove the foreign policy of Pakistan.
