Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa (COAS) at the GeneralHeadquarters on Tuesday in Rawalpindi and discussed relations between the two countries.
Matters of mutual interest and regional security came under discussion during the meeting.
The visiting dignitary appreciated bilateral security engagements during the recent months and the measures initiated by both sides to improve Pak-Iran border security.
“Regional peace is dependent upon wider cooperation within West Asia,” stated the COAS. “We all need to cooperate to root out transnational security and crimes threat.”
Yesterday Zarif held formal talks with Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and also called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
During talks, the two sides discussed bilateral ties as well as key regional issues including the current situation in Afghanistan.
Zarif endorsed Pakistan’s stance that solution to the Afghan conflict could only be found through dialogue.
He said both Pakistan and Iran should use their influence to help Afghanistan restart dialogue process with Afghanistan.
Given the US failed policies, the regional approach was required to bring much needed peace and stability in Afghanistan, Zarif added.
“We have probably the longest diplomatic relations with Pakistan, but relations between the people of the two countries are much deeper, rooted in our common history, common culture and common values,” he maintained.
“Let me assure you that Iran will never do anything to harm Pakistan and we are confident in Iran that Pakistan will never do anything to harm Iran. We have so much confidence in each other,” said the Iranian foreign minister.
He said that Pakistan had always been on their side in times of difficulty. “We know that Pakistani brothers and sisters don’t forget that Iran has been on their side.”
