Zarif, Pakistani Officials Discuss Bilateral Ties, Regional Security
TEHRAN (Dispatches) - The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has held ‘top-level’ talks on bilateral and regional issues with senior Pakistani officials in Islamabad.
Iranian foreign minister in a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday discuss partnership towards promoting regional peace and stability, including close cooperation to help establish security in Afghanistan.
The two sides also called for joint efforts to counter Islamophobia, help resolve the problems of the Muslim world and strengthen relations between them.
They also exchanged views on Iran-Pakistan relations, and the expansion of economic and trade relations, especially the strengthening of cross-border exchanges.
Zarif, Pakistani Counterpart Hold Talks
Zarif also met with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, at the Pakistani Foreign Ministry in Islamabad, during which the two officials underline the need for an all-out effort to bolster ties and adopt coordinated measures towards promoting peace in the region, including in Afghanistan.
In the meeting, Zarif pointed to the deep historical and cultural commonalities between the two countries and expressed Iran’s readiness for a comprehensive development of relations with Pakistan.
He also welcomed a decision by the Pakistani government to open new border markets to develop trade relations between the two countries, and announced Iran’s readiness to reach an agreement with its eastern neighbor on devising new methods on trade exchanges.
Zarif also pointed out the importance of strengthening the security of the two countries’ borders and reaffirmed the need for continuous consultations in this regard.
During the meeting, which was first attended by the two top diplomats and later included other senior officials from both sides, Tehran and Islamabad also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation, and to boost efforts to beef up regional peace and contribute to the peace process in Afghanistan.
The two sides also voiced deep concern about growing Islamophobia in the West and said insulting sanctities under the pretext of freedom of expression is by no means acceptable.
The Pakistani foreign minister, for his part, described Iran as an important friend and neighbor of Pakistan and said his country has taken practical steps to develop trade and economic cooperation with Iran.
"The Pakistani government has decided to help cross-border trade between the two countries,” he said.
He also stressed the need to use the capacities of cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad in regional and international forums towards strengthening bilateral interactions, trade, investment, security and other areas of mutual interest.
Referring to the developments in Afghanistan and the need for peace in the neighboring country of Iran and Pakistan, Qureshi said that Afghanistan’s security and stability are the key to peace in the region, and underscored the need for the promotion of intra-Afghan dialogue by Afghanistan’s leaders and other stakeholders in the country who can help restore peace in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani foreign minister also stressed the importance of establishing peace and security at borders and stressed that his country would not allow any hostile actions against Iran.
Also present at the meeting between the two delegations were the two countries’ special representatives on Afghanistan as well as the two countries’ ambassadors.
Iranian FM, Top Pakistani General Meet
Zarif and Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa discussed ways to expand military cooperation between the two neighbors at a meeting in Islamabad.
The two officials expressed satisfaction with the political, military and regional cooperation between Iran and Pakistan, stressing the need for the promotion of bilateral relations in all fields.
Highlighting the close military cooperation between Iran and Pakistan, Zarif hailed the measures adopted at the common border for strengthening border security as the two countries are opening new border crossings.
He also announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran will be opening the Rimdan border crossing in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan within a few days.
The top Iranian diplomat expressed hope that Pakistan would in turn open the Gabd border crossing, and that other border crossings, including Pishin-Mand, would come into operation gradually for the expansion of popular and trade interaction between the two countries.
For his part, General Qamar Javed Bajwa emphasized the importance of political and military cooperation between the two countries, stressing the need for the promotion of mutual ties in all fields.
The top general also voiced support for the Pakistani government’s decision to open border markets and various crossings along the common border with Iran, including the Rimdan-Gabd and Pishin-Mand crossings.
Heading a political-economic delegation, Zarif arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday to discuss bilateral and regional issues with Pakistani officials.
Iranian foreign minister in a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday discuss partnership towards promoting regional peace and stability, including close cooperation to help establish security in Afghanistan.
The two sides also called for joint efforts to counter Islamophobia, help resolve the problems of the Muslim world and strengthen relations between them.
They also exchanged views on Iran-Pakistan relations, and the expansion of economic and trade relations, especially the strengthening of cross-border exchanges.
Zarif, Pakistani Counterpart Hold Talks
Zarif also met with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, at the Pakistani Foreign Ministry in Islamabad, during which the two officials underline the need for an all-out effort to bolster ties and adopt coordinated measures towards promoting peace in the region, including in Afghanistan.
In the meeting, Zarif pointed to the deep historical and cultural commonalities between the two countries and expressed Iran’s readiness for a comprehensive development of relations with Pakistan.
He also welcomed a decision by the Pakistani government to open new border markets to develop trade relations between the two countries, and announced Iran’s readiness to reach an agreement with its eastern neighbor on devising new methods on trade exchanges.
Zarif also pointed out the importance of strengthening the security of the two countries’ borders and reaffirmed the need for continuous consultations in this regard.
During the meeting, which was first attended by the two top diplomats and later included other senior officials from both sides, Tehran and Islamabad also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation, and to boost efforts to beef up regional peace and contribute to the peace process in Afghanistan.
The two sides also voiced deep concern about growing Islamophobia in the West and said insulting sanctities under the pretext of freedom of expression is by no means acceptable.
The Pakistani foreign minister, for his part, described Iran as an important friend and neighbor of Pakistan and said his country has taken practical steps to develop trade and economic cooperation with Iran.
"The Pakistani government has decided to help cross-border trade between the two countries,” he said.
He also stressed the need to use the capacities of cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad in regional and international forums towards strengthening bilateral interactions, trade, investment, security and other areas of mutual interest.
Referring to the developments in Afghanistan and the need for peace in the neighboring country of Iran and Pakistan, Qureshi said that Afghanistan’s security and stability are the key to peace in the region, and underscored the need for the promotion of intra-Afghan dialogue by Afghanistan’s leaders and other stakeholders in the country who can help restore peace in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani foreign minister also stressed the importance of establishing peace and security at borders and stressed that his country would not allow any hostile actions against Iran.
Also present at the meeting between the two delegations were the two countries’ special representatives on Afghanistan as well as the two countries’ ambassadors.
Iranian FM, Top Pakistani General Meet
Zarif and Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa discussed ways to expand military cooperation between the two neighbors at a meeting in Islamabad.
The two officials expressed satisfaction with the political, military and regional cooperation between Iran and Pakistan, stressing the need for the promotion of bilateral relations in all fields.
Highlighting the close military cooperation between Iran and Pakistan, Zarif hailed the measures adopted at the common border for strengthening border security as the two countries are opening new border crossings.
He also announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran will be opening the Rimdan border crossing in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan within a few days.
The top Iranian diplomat expressed hope that Pakistan would in turn open the Gabd border crossing, and that other border crossings, including Pishin-Mand, would come into operation gradually for the expansion of popular and trade interaction between the two countries.
For his part, General Qamar Javed Bajwa emphasized the importance of political and military cooperation between the two countries, stressing the need for the promotion of mutual ties in all fields.
The top general also voiced support for the Pakistani government’s decision to open border markets and various crossings along the common border with Iran, including the Rimdan-Gabd and Pishin-Mand crossings.
Heading a political-economic delegation, Zarif arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday to discuss bilateral and regional issues with Pakistani officials.