"We had downed American RQ-170 Sentinel spy drone successfully which came from Afghanistan side for spying of our country. Iran had demonstrated its technological skills by bringing down an American drone and it had been able to penetrate the code and security of the drone using its own scientific strength. The US said Iran could not detect the information from RQ-170 Sentinel Spy drone, but we (Iranian) decoded the information and also gathered information about Osama Bin Laden," head of a visiting Iranian delegation Alaeddin Boroujerdi expressed these views in a meeting of Senate's Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production held at Parliament House on Monday.
Giving an account of Iran's progress in science and technology, Chairman National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Borojourdi, who is a former Deputy Foreign Minister, told the committee that it was the era of ultra modern technology and the world would soon observe the modern technology of Iran with the launch of drone spy.
"We are much worried about Afghanistan's situation; today armed forces of 48 countries are there. We want sovereignty and freedom of Afghan people intact," he added. Boroujerdi further said that Iran would continue its political support as well as supply of sophisticated equipments including missiles and ammunition to Jihadi organisations that are fighting in Lebanon such as Hizbullah and the Hamas and Islamic Jehad in Palestine. He said that all Muslim countries should make efforts to unite Muslim Ummah and for this purpose Iran would strongly support the efforts toward this end. He said that the Ulema of all schools of thought should sit together and build consensus on some major point in Islam.
He made it clear that Iran had no intention of building the Atomic bomb but it would certainly exercise its right to do nuclear research and development for peaceful purposes. About Syria unrest, he alleged "the US and United Kingdom (UK) are involved in unrest in Syria while these counties put Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the frontline in this regard." Iran is trying its level best to establish peace in Syria, he said.
Member of the Committee and President's Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that Iran was a member of non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and it had the right to acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purpose.
About Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, Babar said that Pakistan strictly favoured this project and faced pressure. He said that Pakistan was fully determined to complete the project as soon as possible. He said that besides the parliamentarians, businessmen of both the countries should contact to promote trade.
Borojourdi said that Iran was committed to the pipeline agreement with Pakistan and also offered to help support the construction of the pipeline on Pakistani side as well. He said that the pipeline from the Iranian side was almost complete and there would be important development on the issue when President Zardari visits Tehran on December 7.
Senator Moulana Muhammad Khan Sherani said that there was a need of co-operation between military leadership of both the countries. Alaeddin Boroujerdi while supporting the views of Sherani said that both the countries should continue and strengthen co-operation between the military leadership and defence.
Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman, Senate's Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production said that the Parliamentary Defence Committees of Pakistan and Iran had agreed to enhance mutual consultation and co-operation in the context of changes in the region, particularly Afghanistan which will affect both neighbours. He said this while talking to the visiting delegation of Iran's Parliament and Foreign Affairs Committee headed by Alaeddin Borojourdi.
Mushahid said that the entire Pakistani nation was committed to building the energy pipeline with Iran since it was a pipeline of peace and prosperity for the region. He told the visiting Iranian delegation that Pakistan rejects any double standards on the nuclear issue and strongly feels that the stand-off with Iran on the nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully, without threat or use of force. The Senate's Committee supported the right of Iran to undertake nuclear research and enrichment for peaceful purposes in accordance with IAEA safeguards.
The Iranian delegation, which is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of the Senate's Standing Committee on Defence, also called on the Chairman Senate, Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari. On Tuesday the Senate's Defence Committee will host a seminar on "Pakistan and Iran in the Changing World" at Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS).