Iranian FM Hails Opening of New Border Crossing with Pakistan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif said the opening of the third border crossing with Pakistan signifies the two neighbors’ resolve to enhance economic cooperation.
In a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, held in Tehran on Wednesday, Zarif lauded the inauguration of Pishin-Mand border crossing between the two countries as a sign of their determination to boost the economic and trade relations.
Iran and Pakistan opened their third official border crossing, Pishin-Mand, earlier on Wednesday, in order to facilitate business and trade exchanges and create new job opportunities for the border residents.
“Three official border crossings and creation of six border markets will help the cross-border trade to flourish and thus contribute to people’s lives in the region,” Zarif said in the meeting.
The top Iranian diplomat also called for the enhancement of bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in the consular and judicial areas.
“This cooperation will improve the situation of the countries’ nationals and reinforce the relationship between the two peoples,” Zarif said.
The countries’ ties have to develop in such a way that it can avert the harm that is intended by the United States’ oppressive sanctions, he stated.
Zarif called security and stability in the border area a “key element” in improvement of the lives of those, who reside there. He, therefore, underlined the importance of confrontation with organized crime and illegal migration across the border expanse.
He also underscored the need for Tehran and Islamabad to keep up their consultations on various issues, including the future of Afghanistan, Press TV reported.
Qureshi, for his part, also stressed the need for development of the common relations, and noted how the ties rested on “deep-seated cultural-civilizational bases.”
He welcomed increase in the two sides’ cooperation in the consular and judicial fields as well as the situation of the countries’ prisoners.
He voiced Islamabad’s support for the talks on the revival of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The Pakistani official also highlighted the two countries’ shared views on various subjects, including the situation of Muslims around the world, the issue of Palestine, and the importance of global multilateralism.
