Rawalpindi (Staff Report/Agencies): Army Chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed regional security and matters of mutual interest on Friday.
According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Iranian foreign minister called on the army chief at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The COAS and the Iranian FM discussed regional security and matters of mutual interest, it added.
The Iranian foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s contributions for conflict prevention in the region, ISPR added.
Pakistan is taking sincere steps for peace and stability in the region, Javad Zarif was further quoted as saying.
Earlier on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad.
They held detailed discussions on regional and global issues including the situation in Afghanistan and US decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi noted the potential for strengthening the already strong bilateral relationship. Pakistan and Iran have stood by each other in difficult moments.
It was agreed to host the next rounds of bilateral political consultations and the Joint Economic Commission at early dates.
While expressing satisfaction over cooperation with regard to the Pakistan-Iran border, it was agreed to continue close consultations through various forums in this regard.
Qureshi stressed that Pakistan greatly values Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s strong and unswerving support for the just struggle of the people of Kashmir.
Supporting Iran’s principled stance on nuclear accord with world powers, FM Qureshi expressed the hope that remaining parties to the agreement would uphold their commitments in letter and spirit. He said that Pakistan stands with Iran in this hour of need.
Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif congratulated Qureshi that Pakistan’s strong protest against the blasphemous caricature competition had led to cancellation of the event. He said that the Muslim countries needed to confront Islamophobic tendencies with one voice.
Meanwhile, Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane also called on his Pakistani counterpart Qureshi. During the meeting, the two dignitaries discussed areas of cooperation including trade, investment, human resource development, and science and technology.
