Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan and Iran have reiterated the resolve to further broaden mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas of common interest.
This resolve was expressed at a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and his Iranian counterpart Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi in Islamabad on Monday.
Both sides underscored the need for operationalizing bilateral trade mechanisms to boost the volume of trade up to ten billion dollars.
They urged the need to work together to overcome the challenges being faced by the region.
Besides, they discussed key regional and global developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and strongly condemned Israel’s military aggression against the people of Gaza that had resulted in the killing of thousands of innocent Palestinians.
He assured that Pakistan would consistently and unequivocally support the Palestinian cause.
Both the leaders reiterated the need for enhanced international endeavours to bring an end to Israeli suppression of the people of Gaza and for enhanced humanitarian relief and assistance.
Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan and Iran enjoy close fraternal ties based on shared religion, culture, and history, which need to be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of the two brotherly countries.
He thanked Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi for being the first Head of State to visit Pakistan after the general elections, which reflects the deep personal commitment of the Iranian President to Pakistan.
President Zardari appreciated Iran’s principled stance and its consistent support to the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and their right to self-determination.
Iranian President Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi emphasized the need for further expanding and consolidating bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest. He said the interest of the two brotherly countries call for further cementing economic, trade and cultural relations.
Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi highlighted that both countries have enormous potential to increase bilateral trade to the level of ten billion dollars.
He appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support for their Palestinian brethren during the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, during a meeting in Islamabad, agreed on joint efforts by the two countries to eradicate terrorism in the region and promote business activities at the border areas to ensure development and prosperity of the people of the two countries.
The two leaders discussed the entire range of bilateral relations and exchanged views on important regional and global developments.
Underscoring the rich history of relations between Pakistan and Iran, the two leaders reaffirmed commitment to expand wide-ranging bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, energy, connectivity, culture and people-to-people contacts.
Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a three-day official visit to Pakistan till April 24.
During the visit, President Raisi will also visit Lahore and Karachi and meet with the provincial leadership.
Besides discussing regional and global developments, the two sides will have a wide-ranging agenda to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties and enhance cooperation in diverse fields including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people contacts.
