Iranian foreign minister, army chief discuss regional security, cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday, as part of his two-day official visit to Pakistan.

The meeting focused on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries, which share historical, religious and cultural ties, said a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

Both leaders also stressed the need to understand and address each other’s concerns, especially in the wake of the recent missile strikes that escalated the tensions along the border.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, the two sides discussed the regional security situation and the ways to enhance cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to remain in close contact and not allow any disruption in the brotherly relations between the two countries.

They said that Pakistan and Iran are fraternal neighbours and the fate of both countries is linked to each other.

Both sides observed that terrorism is a common threat that needs to be tackled through mutual cooperation, better coordination and intelligence sharing.

The army chief emphasized the need to use sustainable engagement and available communication means to eliminate the security risks.

Both sides agreed to activate the mechanism of deploying military liaison officers in each other’s country as soon as possible to improve the contact and response efficiency against the joint threats.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the border areas, which was identified as an inevitable necessity for the welfare and well-being of the people of both sides.

The visit of the Iranian foreign minister comes after a rare exchange of missile attacks between Iran and Pakistan earlier this month, which targeted the militant groups operating in the restive Balochistan region on both sides of the border.

The strikes killed several civilians and militants, and sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries. However, both sides later expressed their commitment to resolve the issues through dialogue and mutual respect.

The Iranian foreign minister’s visit is aimed at boosting the bilateral ties and exploring the avenues for cooperation in various fields, such as trade, energy, connectivity and culture.