ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Iran have agreed to set up a Joint Rapid ReactionForce to guard the common borders.
The understanding came at a meeting between Iranian President HassanRouhani and Prime Minister Imran Khan during talks in Tehran on Monday.
Later addressing a joint news conference, the Iranian President saidunfortunately we witnessed some tensions in the border areas in the recentpast where the terrorists perpetrated their nefarious acts.
He said both the sides during talks reaffirmed their commitment to peaceand security in the entire region.
The Iranian President said we also emphasized that no third country canharm the brotherly and close relations between the two countries.
Hassan Rouhani said both the countries have also agreed to bolster theirtrade and economic relations and we have agreed to set up a bartercommittee so that goods and other items could be exchanged.
The Iranian President said we are also interested in establishing linksbetween Gwadar and Chahbhar ports in order to strengthen our commercerelations.
He said his country is ready to meet the oil and gas requirements ofPakistan. He said we have already taken the measures to construct the gaspipeline to Pakistani border.
Hassan Rouhani said Iran is also ready to increase the exports ofelectricity to Pakistan.
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Pakistan and Iran also signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperationin the health sector.
Addressing the news conference, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the twocountries have decided to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism toensure that no country’s land is used against each other.
Referring to the recent terrorist incident in Balochistan, which claimedlives of fourteen security personnel, the Prime Minister said incidents ofterrorism affect relations between the two countries.
He said the entire political leadership in Pakistan has pledged that nomilitant group will be allowed to operate from Pakistan and the soil ofPakistan will not be permitted to be used against any other country.
The Prime Minister said the two sides also decided to cooperate for helpingin peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict.
Referring to the Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir, the Prime Ministersaid there is no military solution to the lingering dispute but it can onlybe resolved through political settlement.
He said the settlement of the dispute will help take forward the entiresubcontinent and improve economic and trade linkages in the region.
