Pakistan's Khan says imperative to enhance ties with Iran

Prime Minister Imran Khan has praised Pakistan’s relationship with Iran, stressing an imperative to further expand mutual ties in the future.

Khan said Islamabad has improved its relations internationally, including with the neighbors, over the past two years, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted him as saying in an exclusive interview with the Pakistani television network, ARY, on Friday.

Referring to Pakistan's relations with other countries in the region, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the premier emphasized that Islamabad was resolved to play a role in de-escalating tensions.

Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Khan paid his first visit to Tehran in April where he held talks with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.

Ayatollah Khamenei warned that terrorist groups backed by the enemies of Iran and Pakistan seek to cause tension in the mutual relations.

Terror groups seek to ‘contaminate’ Iran-Pakistan ties: Ayatollah Khamenei

Ayatollah Khamenei says terrorist groups seek to cause tension in relations between Iran and Pakistan.

“Terrorist groups, which sow insecurity along borders, are fed with the enemies’ money and weapons and one of the goals sought through anti-security measures along Iran's border with Pakistan is to contaminate the two countries’ relations,” the Leader stated.

After a closed-door meeting with the prime minister, Rouhani said Iran and Pakistan had agreed to form a joint force to eliminate terrorist groups.

Iran, Pakistan to form joint anti-terror force: Rouhani

Iran and Pakistan have agreed to form a joint force to eliminate terrorist groups as PM Imran Khan began his first visit to Tehran with a pledge not to join any coalition against the Islamic Republic. 

“We agreed to step up security cooperation between the two countries and their respective border security and intelligence forces while also forming a joint rapid reaction force on the shared borders to fight terrorism,” the Iranian president said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Pakistani prime minister hailed advanced urban management in Iran, particularly in the capital Tehran, despite Western sanctions. Khan said Pakistan, Karachi and Lahore for instance, could model its urban management system on that of Iran’s.

Despite all sanctions, Khan said, Iran earned revenues of hundreds of dollars from urban management, particularly in Tehran, which are spent on the development of other cities.