A high-ranking Pakistani official said his country attaches high importance to its relations with “the brotherly Muslim country of Iran”, with which it has “fruitful cooperation in diverse areas of common interest”.
Sartaj Aziz, foreign affairs adviser to Pakistan’s premier, made the statement in a meeting with the visiting chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, and the accompanying delegation on Thursday, IRNA reported.
Aziz stressed the need for boosting Iran-Pakistan trade, saying Islamabad is ready to implement the bilateral agreement on free trade.
“Establishing banking connections is under consideration by Pakistan’s central bank and we hope they will be formed soon,” he said.
Aziz said regional countries should cooperate to curb the spread of terrorism in the region, particularly in Afghanistan, noting that Afghan stability is critical for the security of borders of Iran and Pakistan.
The Pakistani advisor said his country has no intention of engaging in conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Libya and elsewhere, and Islamabad focuses on improving its own economy and security.
Boroujerdi said Iran and Pakistan are much closer to each other than two neighbors, pointing to their strong cultural and religious commonalities.
The Iranian lawmaker said Muslim states should come together to tackle challenges imposed on the region by outside powers.
Boroujerdi arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a three-day visit.
In separate meetings on Thursday, Boroujerdi sat down for talks with National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The speaker said Iran and Pakistan have common views and perceptions on regional and global issues.
Sadiq termed Pakistan-Iran parliamentary engagement as “highly imperative” for the cohesion of the entire region, adding that it’s time for closer parliamentary cooperation to help control chaos in the Muslim world.
Boroujerdi said Iran considers Pakistan as its partner in promoting peace in the region and hoped that both nations would continue to chart the paths of prosperity together.
He underlined the diversification of trade and economic relations, and called for comprehensive parliamentary efforts to explore ways of developing cooperation.
Also on Thursday, Boroujerdi discussed parliamentary relations and regional developments with Pakistan’s Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani.
Boroujerdi submitted an invitation from Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani to Rabbani and Sadiq to attend an upcoming conference to support the Palestinian cause in Tehran.
