— Caretaker PM reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to further consolidate bilateral ties
— Amir-Abdollahian says Iran considers Pakistan’s security as its own
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Monday resolved to expand their cooperation especially in the political and security domains.
The understanding came at meetings of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian with caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani here in the federal capital.
Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and discussed matters of mutual interest. Underscoring close relations between Pakistan and Iran, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further consolidate bilateral ties.
He also emphasized the need to address common challenges through collaborative and cooperative approaches, rooted in the respect for international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, in particular territorial integrity and sovereignty of both Pakistan and Iran.
The prime minister conveyed his warm sentiments for President Ebrahim Raisi and extended an invitation for him to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
Later addressing a joint news conference, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said that the threat of terrorism poses a common challenge to both the countries. He said we have agreed to adopt collective and collaborative approaches to confront this menace with full leveraging the robust institutional mechanism that already exists between the two countries. Jalil Abbas Jilani said respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity remains the fundamental principle of this cooperation.
He stated, “There is no doubt that the terrorists located in the common border regions and areas of Iran and Pakistan are led and supported by third countries and they never favour any good action in line with the benefits of the Iranian and Pakistani governments and nations.”
Abdollahian, at the beginning of his speech, underscored that Iran and Pakistan “never had territorial differences”. He pointed to their historical relations, describing them as representing a single nation located in two distinct geographical positions.
Acknowledging an invitation for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Pakistan, the minister highlighted the mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Abdollahian unequivocally stated that both countries would not provide any opportunity for terrorists to threaten their common security.
“We are here, so in a loud voice we will tell all terrorists that Iran and Pakistan will not provide them with any opportunity to endanger our common security,” he stated.
He disclosed that both sides agreed to prompt actions regarding border security, the necessity of combating terrorism, and the expansion of trade, commercial, and economic cooperation. The minister emphasized the joint commitment of Iran and Pakistan to take further measures in these areas as soon as possible.
Islamabad’s top diplomat said the two sides have also agreed to “establish a high-level constructive mechanism at the level of foreign ministers of the two countries”.
Elaborating further, Jilani said the mechanism will meet alternatively in both Iran and Pakistan “on a regular basis to oversee the progress that is being made in various areas of cooperation”.
He further said that both Islamabad and Tehran have agreed to “cooperate to fight terrorism in our respective areas”. “We have agreed to station liaison officers of which an agreement was already in place at the earliest date,” said the foreign minister, adding that they would be stationed in Turbat and Zahedan.
Appreciating his Iranian counterpart’s visit at “such short notice”, Jilani said it testifies to the deep commitment both sides have to solidify ties with each other. Close ties between Pakistan and Iran were “not only beneficial for development but an important source of stability for the people”.
“Respect for sovereignty and integrity remains the foundational step for cooperation,” stressed FM Jilani and added that Islamabad and Tehran have also agreed upon “adopting collaborative approaches to confront this menace to leverage the robust institutional mechanism”.
Sharing important outcomes of the meeting with the Iranian counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani said we have agreed to establish a high level consultative mechanism at the level of the foreign ministers which will meet alternatively in both Iran and Pakistan on regular basis to oversee the progress that is being made in various areas of our cooperation.
The Foreign Minister said there was an agreement to cooperate to fight terrorism in our respected areas. We need to address and allay each other’s concerns with regard to terrorism and in this connection, the two sides have agreed to station the liaison officers at the earliest date. These liaison officers, he said, will be deployed in Turbat and Zahedan.
The Foreign Minister said both the sides have agreed to prioritize economic uplift and development of our border areas. He said it has been agreed to fast track operationalization of five remaining border markets.
Jalil Abbas Jilani said the two sides recognized that close relationship between our two countries is not only imperative for shared prosperity and development of our peoples but also an important source of stability for the region. He said this bilateral relationship is underpinned by strong bonds of amity and brotherhood.
In his remarks, the Iranian Foreign Minister said both the countries enjoy great cultural, geographical and historic commonalities. He said given the history of these relations, there have never been any territorial differences or border problems. He said this is a manifestation of our good bilateral relations. He said they in fact are a single nation located in two different geographical positions.
The Iranian Foreign Minister said his country considers Pakistan’s security as the security of Iran and the whole region.
The Iranian Foreign Minister said both the countries strongly respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other. He categorically stated that through joint cooperation, the two countries will not allow the terrorists to endanger our common security.
The Iranian Foreign Minister said we have agreed that our borders will be translated into borders of trade, development and progress. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the two sides have also agreed to expand pilgrimage tourism and finalize projects on energy cooperation. The Iranian Foreign Minister also appreciated Pakistan’s stance in support of Palestinian people.
