Iran lauds Pakistan stance not to join Saudi war on Yemen

The matters of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting. The two sides expressed grief and sorrow with each other over the tragic incidence of Mina, Saudi Arabia where the citizens of both countries lost their lives.

“Deep religious ties and cultural commonalities are the main contributors to the development of all-out Tehran-Islamabad cooperation”, said Shamkhani referring to the agreements made during the latest visit of Pakistani PM to Tehran and describing Iran and Pakistan as two influential countries in the Islamic world and the region.

Islamabad-Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said the Chabahar and Gwadar seaports would work as “sister ports” and their operational activity would complement each other.

The adviser said Pakistan and Iran already had several institutional mechanisms to enhance cooperation, including Joint Economic Commission, Joint Border Commission and Joint Commission on Road Transport, which will be utilised in future.

In a related development, Sartaj Aziz said both the United States and Pakistan fully support the Afghan reconciliation process but it is up to Afghan government to decide whether they want the same or not. Aziz added Pakistan’s stance was very much clear that its soil would not be used against any country.

Besides, the global sanctions on Iran continue to put pressure on the two countries’ economic and trade cooperation.

Islamabad has been hopeful of reviving a stalled gas pipeline project connecting Iran to energy-starved Pakistan, following the signing of a historic nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. He said a stable Afghanistan is in the best interest of both Iran and Pakistan. He said Iran stands by the affected people in this hard time.

Shamkhani arrived here on Monday to discuss “Matters related to bilateral relations and regional security situation would be discussed during Shamkhani’s meetings with Pakistani leaders”, diplomatic sources told Dawn News.

On the occasion, Admiral Ali Shamkhani the Iranian leadership and the people of Iran wanted to strengthen their brotherly relations with the government and the people of Pakistan for mutual interest of the two countries as well as the region and the Muslim Ummah.