TEHRAN – Imran Khan, the Pakistani prime minister, has reiterated that his country attaches importance to ties with Iran and intends to bolster relations and cooperation with its western neighbor.
“Pakistan enjoys good relations with Iran and we are after strengthening these ties,” Khan said while on tour of China on Monday, Fars news agency reported.
He also referred to the insecurities at border areas, saying, “We make efforts to establish a tranquil region and want Iran’s cooperation to this end.”
Khan said that Pakistani people’s economic welfare is impossible without stability and security in the region.
Prime Minister Khan visited Tehran on April 21-22 to take part in a number of meetings with senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.
Rouhani and Khan in a joint statement underlined the need to widen mutual cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade and economy.
Rouhani and the Pakistani premier vowed to boost energy relations, including Iran’s electricity export to Pakistan.
The two sides also agreed to hold the next Joint Consular Commission meeting in late 2019 in order to examine the progress made and chart the progress made in facilitating people’s travel from the two countries.
The two officials also reiterated that common borders should be the border of peace and friendship.
The Pakistani side, meantime, welcomed the Iranian government’s announcement of the release of a number of Pakistani inmates and the adoption of measures for their immediate extradition.
The two sides required their respective ministries to use all potentials to put in place all necessary mechanisms to maximize monetary, financial, and commercial activities.
They also agreed to hold the 21st round of Joint Economic Committee meeting in Pakistan in late 2019 in order to consult on the above issues.
Referring to the need for a secure, stable and independent Afghanistan to promote peace and stability in the region, the Iranian president and the Pakistani prime minister called for the establishment of peace talks between Afghan groups, and called on the countries in the region and outside to cooperate with each other to put an end to the conflicts and return peace to Afghanistan.
Rouhani and Khan also condemned all forms of terrorism while acknowledging the great achievements of the two countries in combatting terrorism.
With regard to the importance of extending roads to develop and facilitate bilateral and regional cooperation, the two sides agreed on the implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), CPEC and the North-South, and East-West Transit Corridors in Iran.
The two sides, meantime, emphasized the need to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue based on the will of the people of that region and in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution.
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