"Former Pakistan Army Chief General Retired Mirza Aslam Baig says Iran and Pakistan under siege of western conspiracies"
Former Pakistan Army Chief General ''Retd'' Mirza Aslam Baig on Tuesday said that Iran and Pakistan are under siege of western conspiracies.
He said that intelligence agencies of allied forces are very active in Afghanistan and working against the interests of Iran, Pakistan, China and Russia."There are set-ups of United States in Jiwani and Kot Kalmat, in Balochistan province from where they carry out different operations in the area," he said.
He said that the United States is also providing training facilities to the people of Jundallah, in Balochistan so that these people could create unrest in the area and affect Iran-Pakistan relations.
General (Retd) Baig termed the act of the United States as a conspiracy and said that this should be stopped.
He lauded the decision of the Pakistan government for handing over the people of Jundallah to Iran and said that those who are working against the interests of both countries should be dealt with with iron fist.
He said that the activities of people of Jundallah should be stopped and for this Iran and Pakistan have to tighten the security at Pakistan-Iran border.
He believed that in past both Pakistan and Iran had made mistakes but now it is right time to look forward and build strong relations.
General (Retd) Baig said that Pakistan should have supported the stance of Iran during Iran-Iraq war.
He was of the view that Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan should have worked together after the withdrawal of Russian army from Afghanistan.
He stressed the need for making a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Iran-Pakistan relations.
"We should forget the past and make a strategy to guard our national interests," he said.
He said the richness of Balochistan in mineral resources is one of the attractions for the international powers but the strategic location of Balochistan is more important to the US and its allies.
General (Retd) Baig said that it is the responsibility of both countries to make the area free of danger and take the conspiracies as a challenge.
He said the American policy-makers are very much active in Balochistan since 2001 while India too has gained considerable influence in the province since then."