Iran, Pakistan Discuss Expanding Security Ties

Date: 13 October 2021 - 21:42

News ID: ۹۵۴۱۷

ISLAMABAD (Dispatches) – The chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces and the prime minister of Pakistan on Wednesday stressed the need to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields, including border security and defense cooperation.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Major General Muhammad Baqeri called for closer cooperation between the two neighbors, who have seen a significant leap in relations in recent years.
Imran Khan also stressed the commitment of the Pakistani government to deepen relations with Iran, especially in the border, economic, military, and security sectors.
He stressed that the crisis in Afghanistan has never had a military solution, and an inclusive government should be formed with the participation of all Afghan groups.
Gen. Baqeri arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday evening at the head of a high-level military delegation to expand cooperation with Pakistan. He was welcomed by senior Pakistani military officials and the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan.
On Wednesday, Gen. Baqeri separately met with General Qamar Javed Bajwa, chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan, and General Nadim Reza, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan.
Baqeri and Bajwa met in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, expressing confidence in the growing trend of military, security and border interactions between Iran and Pakistan in recent years and vowed to advance their contacts.
They also reviewed the latest developments in bilateral relations, defense ties and regional developments, including Afghanistan.

After meeting General Raza, the top Iranian general was to travel to Karachi on the second leg of his Pakistan tour where he would visit military and naval installations.
The Iranian and Pakistani military officials were expected to discuss boosting joint cooperation against terrorism, exchanging training delegates, strengthening border management, exchanging information and expanding defense consultations.
This is Baqeri’s second official visit to Pakistan over the past three years.