Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif today, on behalf of their governments, reaffirmed their commitment to work closely for furthering Pak-Iran bilateral relations and promoting mutual cooperation encompassing all areas mutual interest and concerns including effective border management, curbing drug trafficking and checking illegal cross border movement through better coordination, greater intelligence sharing and frequent interactions at political, military, security and at the level of various ministries.
The two leaders reiterated this commitment during meeting of the Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan with a 12-member high powered visiting Iranian delegation headed by the Iranian foreign Minister.
At the outset of the meeting, the two leaders while reciprocating warm sentiments of the people of the two countries observed that that being the immediate neighbours sharing strong cultural, religious and historical ties, Pakistan and Iran have no other option but to work hand in hand to overcome existing challenges at individual, regional as well as international level vis-à-vis the issues confronting the Muslim Ummah.
To remove irritants and overcome issues of mutual concerns in the areas of border management, illegal human and drug trafficking, the two leaders decided that Operational Committees at various levels would be constituted for identification of areas of cooperation, addressing mutual concerns and suggesting way forward for further enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries with special focus on border management, information and intelligence sharing and curbing illegal human and drug trafficking.
The two sides agreed in principle to revive hotline between the border security forces of the two countries in order to resolve any issues at border.
The two sides were unanimous in their views that they are willing to extra mile for furthering Pak-Iran cooperation especially on the areas of mutual interest and concerns for the two countries.
Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan observed that visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to Pakistan along with high-ranking officials would provide momentum to the existing bilateral relations and promoting multifaceted cooperation, on one hand, and find way forward for the solution to the irritants affecting the bilateral relations.
“Your visit will send a strong message to those who wanted to undermine Pak-Iran relations and always look for an opportunity to create mistrust between the two friendly countries.”, observed the Interior Minister.
He said that Pakistan and Iran are tied together with strong bonds of common faith, history and culture. The two countries not only share geographical boundaries but also common issues and problems. We must join hands to overcome our mutual issues, securing peace and stability for the region and more importantly for the security and economic prosperity of our people, observed the Interior Minister.
The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment not to let their borders and their lands used by anyone against each other.
The Iranian Minister also extended invitation to the Interior Minister to visit Iran observing that such high level visits especially that of the Interior Minister would add momentum to the efforts aimed at further cementing our Pak-Iran bilateral relations and cooperation.
PREVIOUS NEXT
