Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on a three-day official visit of Pakistan held meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and also called on National Security Adviser Retired Lieutenant General Nasser Khan Janjua.
The Iranian foreign minister was heading a 30-member delegation, which held talks on several bilateral issues. During the meetings with civilian and military leaderships, Iranian delegation discussed the matters pertaining to trade, energy, culture, people to people contacts besides discussing other matters of mutual interest.
The Iranian foreign minister said that Iranian leadership will not let its soil be used against Pakistan and Iran’s relations with India are not aimed against Pakistan. Zarif also invited Pakistan and China to invest in the port of Chabahar, and said both countries will need to cooperate for ending terrorism in the region. Iran assured Pakistan that its soil would never be used again Pakistan and Chahbahar port should not be considered as rival port of Gwadar. Zarif said that both ports should be portrayed as sister ports as working in collaboration can achieve regional connectivity in a better way.
Iranian foreign minister said that 50 per cent increase in trade between Pakistan and Iran since last year has been witnessed, but there is great room to further increase the bilateral trade. Zarif was of the view that Pakistan and Iran are leading Muslim countries in different industries and together they can more towards free trade agreement.
In meeting with COAS, the visiting dignitary appreciated bilateral security engagements during the recent months and measures initiated by both sides to improve Pakistan-Iran border security. During the meeting, they expressed profound satisfaction over upward trajectory in bilateral relations. Both sides stressed on the importance of identifying and removing all the impediments for improving relations.
Iran’s offer to Pakistan of investment and development of Chabahar port provides vital and fruitful avenues of mutual cooperation to both countries which Pakistan must consider. The visit of the Iranian foreign minister and his reassurances to Pakistan should serve as a reset to open new channels of cooperation that best serve the interests of both the countries. Our foreign policy must be guided by the fact that Pakistan needs to make new allies and strengthen relations with neighbouring countries. It seems despite the ongoing collaborations with India, Iran is very keen to not undermine its relations with neighbouring country Pakistan. High level reciprocal visits of Iranian and Pakistani delegations will indeed help in further strengthening bilateral relations.
High level bilateral reciprocal visits will indeed help in further strengthening relations.