Pakistan, Iran agree to form Joint working groups to strengthen bilateral relations
Iranian Interior Minister Dr Ahmed Vahidi arrived in Islamabad on Monday with a nine-member Iranian delegation on a day-long visit for talks with Pakistani government officials on a wide range of issues.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi held detailed talks with his Pakistani counterpart Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in Islamabad.
They reached understanding on a number of issues including:
- Pakistan and Iran agreed to not allow anyone use their soil against each other.
- The two sides also exchanged views on completing fencing on Pakistan-Iran border at the earliest.
- The two sides agreed to set up markets on Pak-Iran borders and increase the number of border terminals.
- Ways to prevent illegal human immigration and drug trafficking.
- They also discussed the exchange of prisoners and measures to facilitate pilgirms.
The two sides also discussed the regional security situation, looming humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan and other bilateral issues.
The Iranian Minister also held meetings with the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and Army Chief General Qamar Javed as well as other government functionaries.
This is Vahidi’s first visit to Pakistan as Iran’s Minister of Interior since his appointment in August.
Meeting with PM Imran Khan
Prime Minister Imran Khan in his meeting with Iran’s Interior Minister Dr Ahmad Vahidi highlighted the vast potential that exists for enhanced collaboration in diverse fields. PM Imran Khan particularly emphasised the importance of close bilateral collaboration to boost trade and regional connectivity, and also stressed the early completion and operationalisation of the border sustenance markets and the economic uplift of the people living on both sides of the border.
He underscored that joint cooperation was vital to addressing security issues.
The premier then thanked the Iranian government and the country’s supreme leader for their steadfast support for the just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Dr Vahidi conveyed cordial greetings of the Iranian leadership to the premier and reaffirmed Iran’s desire to strengthen bilateral relations in all aspects.
Meeting with Army Chief
In his meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the two discussed the geostrategic environment, particularly regional security situation and bilateral cooperation in defence and security domains, the Pakistani military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said.
“Enhanced cooperation between the two brotherly neighbours is vital for peace and stability in the region,” the ISPR quoted General Bajwa as saying. The army chief highlighted the need to put in collective efforts to “deny any space or liberty of action to be exploited by miscreants along the Pak-Iran border,” it added.
Balochistan attacks
Iranian Interior Minister strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan province Pakistan.
Ten Pakistani soldiers were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Balochistan’s Kech on January 28, while another nine troops and 20 militants were killed in an operation this month to regain control of two military camps in Panjgur and Noushki from militants of the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Dr. Vahidi’s visit follows the series of terrorist attacks in Balochistan which shares a 959km long penetrable border with Iran. Sources claimed that the militants carried out these attacks from Iran and Afghanistan and the issue would be raised on the diplomatic level with both nations.
Sources with the knowledge of the matter have claimed that Islamabad will raise the issue of terrorists using Iran’s soil to carryout militant activities in Balochistan and launching attacks on security forces and sensitive installations. They further added that Pakistan has taken up the issue of safe havens in Iran and the supply of weapons to the militants engaged in Balochistan to disturb the law and order in the province.