Iranian FM Stresses Increased Anti-Terrorism Cooperation with Pakistan

TEHRAN (defapress)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Muhammad Asif underlined the necessity for strengthening mutual cooperation to prevent terrorist acts along the two nations' shared borders.

News ID: 69165

Date: 12 March 2018 - 19:24

"Iran and Pakistan, as two friendly states and neighbors with common borders, are necessitated to have strong cooperation to guarantee security of their borders and prevent the terrorists' infiltration," Zarif said during the meeting in Islamabad on Monday.

Asif, for his part, underscored development of the two countries' relations, and said, "We are ready to expand our cooperation in different political and economic fields."

"We want stable borders for both countries," he added.

The Iranian top diplomat arrived in Islamabad on Sunday at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation.

The trip is Zarif’s seventh to Pakistan in his capacity as foreign minister.

The last visit in May featured talks aimed at boosting border security following an attack on the common border by terrorists that killed 10 Iranian guards.

In relevant remarks earlier today, Zarif underlined that his country is determined to broaden bilateral relations with Pakistan, specially in the free trade.

"Iran pursues free bilateral trade with the neighboring South Asian country (Pakistan)," Zarif said.

Zarif further said the Islamic Republic also seeks to promote its banking relations with Pakistan and boost preferred tariffs levied on traded goods.

After attending political and economic gatherings in the Pakistani capital during the three-day visit, which is especially geared towards enhancing bilateral trade, Zarif is expected to travel to the business and industrial hub of Karachi, where further economic talks have been scheduled.

Iran and Pakistan seek to increase bilateral trade volume to almost five billion dollars per year.

Zarif pointed to the notable increase over the recent years in the volume of bilateral trade, adding, however, that “the area still contains more capacities.”

“Tehran and Islamabad enjoy special relations,” he said while describing the quality of bilateral political relations as “very good.”