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Pakistan renews support for Iran`s nuclear program

IRNA

Islamabad, Sept 15, IRNA -- Pakistan Monday reiterated its stand that 
Iran ha the right to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan renewed Islamabad 
position while responding to questions during a weekly press briefing.
"It is between Iran and the IAEA as Tehran says that it was ready 
to cooperate with the agency," he said about reports that the IAEA 
gave Iran until October 31 to disclose its nuclear activities to the 
board`s satisfaction. 
Khan referred to statements from Pakistani officials that Iran has
the right to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and that
Iran has denied its uranium enrichment activities are part of an 
illegal weapons program. 
Tehran maintains it is seeking to produce only low-grade uranium 
fuel to meet its energy needs. 
About Israeli threats to expel, exile or assassinate Palestinian 
President Yasser Arafat, the spokesman said all this is `condemnable`.
"No one can tolerate this kind of behavior." 
Khan said Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri may be visiting
India as part of his visits to other SAARC capitals to extend 
invitations to heads of state and government for the upcoming SAARC 
summit in Islamabad. 
He, however, pointed out that the visit depends on the response of
New Delhi. "The Foreign Minister has already visited Bangladesh, Nepal
and Sri Lanka and will also go to Bhutan and Maldives." 
To a question about Indo-Israeli defense cooperation, the 
spokesman said Pakistan would maintain its minimum credible deterrence
and would not lose the competitive edge of its conventional weapons 
capability. 
He said the Indo-Israeli relationship is a `destabilizing factor` 
and will have a negative impact on peace and security in South Asian 
region. 
About growing relations between United States and India, he said 
this opens a window of opportunity for Washington to use its influence
with New Delhi and persuade it to cooperate in developing confidence 
building measures and resume dialogue with Pakistan. 
To another question about the forthcoming visit of US Treasury 
Secretary John Snow to Pakistan, the spokesman said reconstruction of 
Afghanistan, measures to fight terrorist financing and economic 
reforms agenda that Pakistan is pursuing will figure in the talks. 
Khan said bilateral economic and commercial relations would also 
be discussed. 
"Pakistan-US cooperation has intensified after 9/11," the 
Pakistani official added. 
/TSH/AH/210 
End