Pakistan’s former ambassador to Iran says the visit of Chairman of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces to Pakistan is a welcomed development as it can help improve defense ties between the two neighbors.
In a talk with IRNA in Islamabad, Javid Husain said that the security and economic well-being of Iran and Pakistan are closely linked.
“What is good for the security of Iran is good for the security of Pakistan, and what is good for the security of Pakistan is good for the security of Iran. The same is obviously true about the economic progress and prosperity of the two countries,” he added.
Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri along with a high level delegation will start a three-day visit to Pakistan on Sunday.
The former diplomat said the visit is a welcoming development and Baqeri’s meetings with the Pakistani top brass and President Mamnoon Hussain will help improve two-way cooperation in the key defense sector.
The former senior envoy was quoted as saying “We have a very precarious security situation in Afghanistan that is of serious concern to both countries.”
Situation in Afghanistan
Therefore it is important that military leaders of the two countries should meet and exchange views as to how they can cooperate and how they can coordinate policies, in particular in issues related to mutual borders, Husain said.
He said this is especially important for promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan where both Iran and Pakistan should closely coordinate their policies so that peace and stability can be restored in the war-ravaged country in the interest of its people.
Menace of Terrorism
Iran and Pakistan can also cooperate in fighting the menace of terrorism from which both countries have suffered and this is not only in the interest of two-way relations but also crucial for internal peace and security in the two countries.
“With close cooperation they will be more successful in fighting this scourge.”
The analyst was of the view that General Baqeri’s visit to Pakistan would also help both sides to augment cooperation in the border regions.
“We are aware that from time to time some terrorist elements have embarked on terrorist activities in one country or the other and sometimes they cross the border. It is crucial that we have a peaceful border between Iran and Pakistan,” he told the news agency.
Husain added that leaders of the two countries are determined to ensure peaceful and stable borders.
“There is a need to coordinate policies to fight such elements who may be encouraged by some non-regional powers or others to carry out terrorist activities either in Iran or Pakistan,” the former ambassador concluded without naming any country.
