Islamabad, April 14, IRNA — Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan isscheduled to visit Iran heralding a new chapter for further cooperationbetween the two friendly states.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Faisal toldIRNA that Prime Minister will pay an official visit to Iran in near futurebut the details of the visit would be announced later.
The visit will take place at a right time when bitter border incidents drewstrong protest from Iran holding Pakistani government accountable forfailure to ensure border security with Iran.
Analysts say that Iran and Pakistan are two friendly states and can easilyremove irritants in bilateral ties through dialogue and regular interaction.
Iran and Pakistan have been enjoying strong brotherly relations since thecreation of Pakistan way back in 1947.
Pakistani media reported that Prime Minister Imran Khan would hold formaltalks with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and also meet the SupremeLeader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
The visit has been due since Imran Khan took over as prime minister lastAugust.Meanwhile, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was the first topforeign diplomat to visit Pakistan after the new government came into power.
Pakistan has also dispatched a load of over 32 tons humanitarian suppliesto flood-hit Iran depicting close ties between the two states.Earlier Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Iranian counterpart HassanRouhani had discussed bilateral and security relations in a telephone call.
Imran Khan expressed his heartfelt condolences on the terrorist attack inSistan-Baluchestan province of Iran on neighborhood with Pakistan which 27Iranian guards were killed. The two leaders agreed on the need for closercooperation among the two intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.
In past, Pakistan tried to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia but allthose diplomatic efforts failed to achieve the desired results.Officials familiar with the agenda of the prime minister’s upcoming visitsaid Imran Khan would reiterate Pakistan’s offer and call for unity amongall the Muslim countries to deal with common challenges.
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Prime Minister Imran Khan in an important statement last year said Pakistanwill no longer act as a hired gun in someone else’s war showing his resolveto pursue an independent foreign policy.
Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost while interacting with localmedia had stated that external factors and third party cannot harmall-weather friendship between Iran and Pakistan. He noted that Iran andPakistan have lots of achievements in regional issues against their enemies.Analysts say that Iran, having the world’s third largest oil reserves andrich natural gas resources, is also capable of feeding the industry ofPakistan.
Despite the problems and the lack of banking channel trade between Iran andPakistan is increasing, Iran’s exports to Pakistan increased by around 38percent during 11 months of past Iranian year 1397 which ended on March 20,2019.
During last Iranian year 1397, Iran exported products worth US $ 1.128 toPakistan. There is also 28 percent increase in the weight of the exporteditems which stood at 2489 tons.Leaders of Iran and Pakistan have already agreed to enhance the bilateraltrade volume to $5 billion in the next five years.
Iran has also expressed its desire to join China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) project. It is said that Iran with its vast energy sources can playa major role in making the CPEC a success.
The two countries in order to enhance their trade ties have alreadydeclared Chabahar and Gwadar ports as sister ports which will complementeach other.
Iran and Pakistan are not just close neighbors but two important countriesof the Muslim world and their cooperation is useful for the whole MuslimUmmah.
