A senior lawmaker said Iran is ready to strengthen mutual parliamentary relations with Pakistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi expressed readiness in separate meetings with Pakistani Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Tajik Parliament Speaker Mili Ubaidulloev and Afghan Parliament Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, IRNA reported.
The meetings were held on the sidelines of the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Moscow on Friday.
In meeting with Ayaz Sadiq, Boroujerdi pointed to the sensitive situation on Iran-Pakistan border areas and stressed the need for cooperation to fight terrorist groups and combat drug dealers.
He said Iran has extensive experience in fighting terrorism in the region and it is ready to share it with Pakistan.
Ayaz Sadiq said the two parliaments play an important role in solving regional problems and fighting terrorism.
He said boosting parliamentary relations between the two neighbors would be useful for developing mutual cooperation and forging ties between the two nations.
In a separate meeting, Boroujerdi told Tajikistan’s Ubaidulloev that in view of threats posed by terrorist networks in Central Asia, intelligence cooperation against terrorist groups is of top importance.
Boroujerdi said Iran is serious about confronting terrorist groups and exchange of views among regional countries lets them deal better with these groups.
Describing Islam as a religion of equality, tolerance and fraternity, Boroujerdi said associating terrorist groups like the Islamic State with Islam is a “strategic mistake”.
He described Iran-Tajikistan ties as friendly and based on mutual interests, hoping for stronger cooperation between the two countries.
Ubaidulloev welcomed Iran’s participation in the plenary session and said regional integration is necessary to maintain peace and security in Central Asia.
In a meeting with Afghan speaker, Boroujerdi said increased interaction among Muslim countries would help solve problems within the Muslim world.
He added that broadening parliamentary relations would help develop strong ties between the two governments.
Ibrahimi described threats posed by terrorists as “dangerous for both countries”, calling for increased regional cooperation against terrorist groups.
Iran attended the parliamentary assembly of CSTO as a special guest while the assembly gave priority to discuss Iran’s observer status in the next session.
The State Duma of the Russian Federation hosted the assembly attended by the parliament speakers of Tajikistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Pakistan, Afghanistan as well as the head of Serbia’s Parliament Defense Committee.
CSTO is a military alliance that consists of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, while Serbia and Afghanistan have been accorded observer status.
