ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani at a meeting and later addressing a joint presser resolved the two countries’ determination to further cement relations despite recent border tensions.
The Iranian foreign minister had earlier arrived in Islamabad on an official visit on the invitation of the caretaker foreign minister.
The visit of the Iranian foreign minister allayed apprehensions expressed by experts about possible escalations in their ties following the recent skirmishes.
The two sides today underscored the importance of robust dialogue and cooperation as the pathway for a positive, forward-oriented and upward trajectory in bilateral relations.
The two sides also agreed to work towards promoting the mutually desired goals of peace and prosperity, based on mutual respect and a collective approach to address common challenges.
At the joint news conference, Foreign Minister Jilani the two countries faced the threat of terrorism.
“We have agreed to adopt collective and collaborative approaches to confront this menace by full leveraging the robust institutional mechanism that already exists between the two countries,” Radio Pakistan reported.
He also said that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity remains the fundamental principle of this cooperation.
He added, “We have agreed to establish a high level consultative mechanism at the level of the foreign ministers which will meet alternatively in both Iran and Pakistan on regular basis to oversee the progress that is being made in various areas of our cooperation.” Iranian Foreign Minister said both the countries enjoy great cultural, geographical and historic commonalities. He said given the history of these relations, there have never been any territorial differences or border problems. He said this is a manifestation of our good bilateral relations. He said they in fact are a single nation located in two different geographical positions.
The Iranian Foreign Minister said his country considers Pakistan’s security as the security of Iran and the whole region.
Speaking on the occasion, the Iranian foreign minister said his country and Pakistan respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other.
Through joint efforts, we will not allow terrorists to dent security of the two countries, he added.
“We have agreed that our borders will be translated into borders of trade, development and progress.”
Abdollahian added the two countries had also agreed to expand pilgrimage tourism.
The visit of the Iranian foreign minister is of significant in the sense that the two countries recently saw their relations becoming highly tense in history.
But it was also significant that both the countries realized to bring back their ties to normality and decided to engagement with each other at the highest diplomatic level.
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