Pakistan's Likely PM Underlines Expansion of Ties with Iran, Review of Relations with US

Pakistan’s likely next prime minister, Imran Khan, underlined that the country's future government will further broaden ties with Iran and will review relations with Washington.

News ID: 71440

Date: 28 July 2018 - 16:53

TEHRAN (Defapress)- "Improvement of relations with neighbors, specially Iran, will be a priority in Pakistan's foreign policy," Imran Khan told FNA on Saturday.

He stressed that development of all-out ties with Iran will benefit Pakistan, and said, "Expansion of trade with Iran will also be on our agenda."

Imran Khan, meantime, said that Islamabad will revise its relations with the US, adding that ties with Washington should be based on mutual interests and respect.

He also emphasized his country's need to import energy from Iran, and said even if Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India pipeline, also known as Trans-Afghanistan (TAPI) pipeline, project is implemented, Pakistan will need supplying energy from Iran.

The election was seen as a contest between Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party and Shahbaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

With most votes counted, Khan's party is leading with 115 seats in the 272 National Assembly constituencies being contested, far ahead of the PML-N on 64.

In third place with 43 seats is the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of assassinated two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The PPP did not attend the meeting of rival parties on Friday.

A total of 137 seats is required for a majority and while Khan is on course to become prime minister, he will have to form a coalition government.

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