PM Imran Khan has concluded his maiden two-day official visit to Iran. As for as outcomes of the visit is concerned both countries have agreed to boost security cooperation and set up a Joint Rapid Reaction Force to fight terrorism and guard the common border between the two countries. Leadership of both the countries decided to share intelligence and treat any group involved in inhuman activities on either side as terrorist, said a press releases issued in Tehran and Islamabad. Islamabad and Tehran also agreed to further strengthen bilateral trade and their economic ties. Prime Minister Imran Khan while speaking at a joint press conference with the Iranain President Hassan Rauhani, said both the countries would not allow terrorist activities from each other’s sides. He said the security chiefs of the two countries would discuss ways of cooperation and expressed the hope that it would build confidence between the two countries to act jointly against terrorism. In the last 12 to 13 years Pakistan has suffered a lot from terrorism where 70,000 of our people lost their lives in terrorist activities, he said. He said that four decades of war in Afghanistan had affected both Pakistan and Iran. Peace in Afghanistan was in the interest of both the countries, he added. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran was determined to strengthen bilateral ties with Pakistan and no third country could harm their brotherly relations. The president said they particularly discussed the border security and agreed that any group involved in inhuman activities would be treated as terrorist. Pakistan and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the health sector. PM Imran Khan raised Palestine and Kashmir Issue with Iranian President and urged for the early settlement of these issues for the durable peace and stability in the region. Iran is Pakistan’s immediate neighbor and both countries have been enjoying cordial relations since past several decades. There is still strong potential for further improvement in bilateral relations particularly in the fields of trade, economics and other areas.
The decision to boost security cooperation and set up a Joint Rapid Reaction Force to fight terrorism and guard the common border between the two countries will put positive impact on bilateral relations and it will help both countries to crush terrorists in better way. It will also help to end misunderstanding between both countries. It is hoped that PM Imran Khan’s visit to Iran would further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran.
