President Rouhani urges enhanced Iran-Pakistan trade, economic ties

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stressed the importance of strengthening relations with Pakistan, saying the two countries should make more efforts to remove obstacles in the way of achieving that goal.

“Tehran-Islamabad relations in the economic field must reach a higher level than the current one and the two sides should not be satisfied with the current volume of trade and economic relations,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Tehran on Tuesday.

The two countries should make further efforts and develop better mechanisms for enhanced trade and economic cooperation, he added.

Rouhani hailed the cordial relations between the two Muslim nations as a valuable asset which can be used to improve cooperation in different fields.

The Iranian president said positive developments have been made to enhance security in common borders and expressed confidence that given the two countries’ firm resolve, they can easily confront smugglers and those who create insecurity in border areas.

He then touched upon regional issues and said, “We believe that in regional issues and relations, all [countries] must cooperate with each other to establish peace, tranquility and stability.”

No country can affect Iran-Pakistan ties: Bajwa

The Pakistani chief of army staff, for his part, said no country can affect relations between the two neighbors and called for more efforts to deepen ties among Muslim states.

He added that Pakistan would use all capacities and different methods to expand trade and economic cooperation.

Bajwa, who is in Iran at the head of a high-ranking military and security delegation, also held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday.

The two sides discussed the expansion of political, economic and military ties besides border security and regional cooperation.

The Pakistani general also met with Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani and the Chief Commander of Iran's Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi.

Iran urges joint regional efforts against insecurity, US plots

Iran’s top security official calls for collective cooperation in the region to counter insecurity and thwart US plots to sow discord among Muslim nations.

In his meeting with Bajwa, the SNSC secretary stressed the need for collective cooperation in the region to counter insecurity and thwart US plots to sow discord among Muslim nations.

Iran’s top security official calls for collective cooperation in the region to counter insecurity and thwart US plots to sow discord among Muslim nations.

Shamkhani said Washington has been trying to create a rift among Muslim countries in bid to expand its dominance and ensure the security of the regime Israel.

Read more:

• Iran general urges restraint in disputed Kashmir, warns about ‘hasty’ decisions
• Iran demands Pakistan secure immediate release of abducted security forces

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk