Pakistan
and Iran on Saturday expressed their resolve to further strengthen
bilateral ties in diverse fields, with particular focus on enhanced
cooperation in energy, trade and economic spheres.In a whirlwind
five-hour visit to the Iranian capital, President Asif Ali Zardari had
two rounds of talks each with President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and the
Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, followed by
another meeting (third) with his Iranian counterpart in the President’s
palace.The President was accompanied by Interior Minister Rehman Malik,
Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Petroleum
and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Pakistan’s
Ambassador in Iran Khalid Aziz Babar and Spokesman to the President
Farhatullah Babar.
The
Spokesman to the President while briefing media persons, said the visit
was part of the on-going process to strengthen bilateral ties, step up
consultations with countries in the region for peace and stability at a
time when tension was developing in some parts and for promoting peace
and stability in Afghanistan and fighting militancy.
After official talks, the President left for Mashed and would return to Islamabad past midnight Saturday.During the meeting with President Ahmedinejad, President proposed a currency swap agreement between Pakistan and Iran to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties between the two brotherly countries.
He said Pakistan was already in the dialogue process with Turkey, Sri Lanka and China for the currency swap arrangement.
The two leaders agreed on adopting regional approach to addressing the growing challenge of extremism and militancy.
President Zardari and President Ahmedinejad expressed the confidence that joint efforts would prove helpful in countering terrorism, which was a common enemy for the entire region and the world.
President Zardari mentioned the long drawn fight against militancy and stressed the need for long-term measures and joint efforts to eliminate this menace.
President Zardari held wide ranging parleys with President Ahmedinejad, with focus on establishing a comprehensive strategic and economic partnership between the two countries.
The two leaders expressed their resolve to upgrade and further intensify existing bilateral ties,particularly in the fields of energy, trade and economic for the mutual benefit of two brotherly countries.
The two leaders held in-depth discussions that covered the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and the regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The discussion also focused on the ways and means to further intensify their mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of common interest.
The two sides agreed on the need to expand, strengthen and take their bilateral cooperation in diverse fields to the level, which commensurate their warm, deep rooted and historic ties.
President Zardari lauded Iran’s constructive engagement in the trilateral process and in this respect mentioned the last month’s Pakistan-Iran-Afghanistan Trilateral Summit hosted by Tehran.
President Zardari proposed to the Iranian Government to consider creating an Integrated Border Management Regime between Pakistan and Iran. Both the sides need to intensify consultations and take pragmatic steps for meeting the challenge of militancy and extremism, he added.
He said Pakistan and Iran had vital interests in the stability and peace of the region.
President Zardari mentioned the growing problem of narcotics and human trafficking in the region, which he said, required mutual coordination among the governments.
He said Pakistan and Iran faced a common menace of drug trafficking across their borders and expressed the hope that a mechanism in the form of trilateral initiative involving Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran would help counter the menace in the region.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in the energy sector with particular reference to the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project besides supply of power from Iran to Balochistan.
President Zardari said Pakistan and Iran had the potential to undertaking joint economic projects in Afghanistan in order to enhance connectivity, build infrastructure, rail and road links as well as trilateral cooperation in other mega projects.
The Iranian President also agreed on taking full advantage of geo-strategic locations for ushering in a new era of development in the two countries in particular, and in the whole region.
The President urged for further deepening Pak-Iran bilateral cooperation in all areas, particularly trade, energy, security, communication and infrastructure.
Pakistan attaches great importance to its cordial equation with Iran and regards Iran as an important friend and player in the region, President Zardari added.
He recalled that he had discussed upgradation of Pakistan-Iran-Turkey rail transport system with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
He said it could prove as a win-win mega project that would enhance regional connectivity and boost regional trade.
The President said that considerable work had been done on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and it was important now to move towards its implementation phase.
Zardari said there was a need to bring about a quantitative increase in Pak-Iran bilateral trade to at least four billion dollars in the next few years which at present was one billion dollars.
He called for working together to identify impediments to full implementation of Pak-Iran Preferential Trade Agreement concluded in 2006.
He also proposed for a bilateral Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement.On developments in Afghanistan, President Zardari said Pakistan supported the process initiated by President Karzai for national reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan supported a reconciliation process which must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned one and added that the Pakistan Government was ready to provide all possible assistance in capacity-building of Afghan institutions.
He said Afghanistan should not again become a play-field for proxy wars or civil strife after the withdrawal of NATO/ISAF forces.
The President said that both Pakistan and Iran had vital interests in the stability and peace in Afghanistan.
Iranian President Ahmadinejad appreciated the role Pakistan was playing in the promotion of regional stability and peace and for its keen interest in further strengthening existing cordial equation with Iran.
Farhatullah Babar described the visit as important and part of the policy to deepen economic and political cooperation with Iran, reach out regional states to address issues of stability and peace in the region, further peace process in Afghanistan and reverse the tide of terrorism.
President Zardari also called on the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei and discussed bilateral relations and the need to further strengthen these in all areas.
President Zardari and the Iranian Supreme Leader exchanged views on bilateral, regional and global issues of concern besides the fight against militancy.
The two leaders held two rounds of talks including the delegation level and one-to-one meeting. During the one-to-one meeting, President Ahmedinejad was also present.
The two leaders also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan, with particular reference to the gradual withdrawal of US forces.
This was President Zardari’s second meeting with the Iranian Supreme Leader. He last met him in June, when he was there to attend the international conference on the fight against terrorism.
Farhatullah Babar told the media persons that Iran’s Supreme Leader and President Zardari agreed on the need for further widening the scope of relations to encompass all spheres of interaction.
They were of the view that greater economic and commercial ties would not only boost their political but also their people-to-people contacts.
President Zardari said, “Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Iran and regards it an important friend and player in the region”. He said ties between the two countries were rooted in historical, cultural and religious bonds.
He said Pakistan believed in strengthening ties with its neighbours to bring about peace and stability in the region and to optimally benefit from shared development and prosperity.
President Zardari said Pakistan’s relations with other countries were based on principles of respect for their sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, non-intervention and non-interference. APP
After official talks, the President left for Mashed and would return to Islamabad past midnight Saturday.During the meeting with President Ahmedinejad, President proposed a currency swap agreement between Pakistan and Iran to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties between the two brotherly countries.
He said Pakistan was already in the dialogue process with Turkey, Sri Lanka and China for the currency swap arrangement.
The two leaders agreed on adopting regional approach to addressing the growing challenge of extremism and militancy.
President Zardari and President Ahmedinejad expressed the confidence that joint efforts would prove helpful in countering terrorism, which was a common enemy for the entire region and the world.
President Zardari mentioned the long drawn fight against militancy and stressed the need for long-term measures and joint efforts to eliminate this menace.
President Zardari held wide ranging parleys with President Ahmedinejad, with focus on establishing a comprehensive strategic and economic partnership between the two countries.
The two leaders expressed their resolve to upgrade and further intensify existing bilateral ties,particularly in the fields of energy, trade and economic for the mutual benefit of two brotherly countries.
The two leaders held in-depth discussions that covered the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and the regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The discussion also focused on the ways and means to further intensify their mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of common interest.
The two sides agreed on the need to expand, strengthen and take their bilateral cooperation in diverse fields to the level, which commensurate their warm, deep rooted and historic ties.
President Zardari lauded Iran’s constructive engagement in the trilateral process and in this respect mentioned the last month’s Pakistan-Iran-Afghanistan Trilateral Summit hosted by Tehran.
President Zardari proposed to the Iranian Government to consider creating an Integrated Border Management Regime between Pakistan and Iran. Both the sides need to intensify consultations and take pragmatic steps for meeting the challenge of militancy and extremism, he added.
He said Pakistan and Iran had vital interests in the stability and peace of the region.
President Zardari mentioned the growing problem of narcotics and human trafficking in the region, which he said, required mutual coordination among the governments.
He said Pakistan and Iran faced a common menace of drug trafficking across their borders and expressed the hope that a mechanism in the form of trilateral initiative involving Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran would help counter the menace in the region.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in the energy sector with particular reference to the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project besides supply of power from Iran to Balochistan.
President Zardari said Pakistan and Iran had the potential to undertaking joint economic projects in Afghanistan in order to enhance connectivity, build infrastructure, rail and road links as well as trilateral cooperation in other mega projects.
The Iranian President also agreed on taking full advantage of geo-strategic locations for ushering in a new era of development in the two countries in particular, and in the whole region.
The President urged for further deepening Pak-Iran bilateral cooperation in all areas, particularly trade, energy, security, communication and infrastructure.
Pakistan attaches great importance to its cordial equation with Iran and regards Iran as an important friend and player in the region, President Zardari added.
He recalled that he had discussed upgradation of Pakistan-Iran-Turkey rail transport system with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
He said it could prove as a win-win mega project that would enhance regional connectivity and boost regional trade.
The President said that considerable work had been done on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and it was important now to move towards its implementation phase.
Zardari said there was a need to bring about a quantitative increase in Pak-Iran bilateral trade to at least four billion dollars in the next few years which at present was one billion dollars.
He called for working together to identify impediments to full implementation of Pak-Iran Preferential Trade Agreement concluded in 2006.
He also proposed for a bilateral Pakistan-Iran Free Trade Agreement.On developments in Afghanistan, President Zardari said Pakistan supported the process initiated by President Karzai for national reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan supported a reconciliation process which must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned one and added that the Pakistan Government was ready to provide all possible assistance in capacity-building of Afghan institutions.
He said Afghanistan should not again become a play-field for proxy wars or civil strife after the withdrawal of NATO/ISAF forces.
The President said that both Pakistan and Iran had vital interests in the stability and peace in Afghanistan.
Iranian President Ahmadinejad appreciated the role Pakistan was playing in the promotion of regional stability and peace and for its keen interest in further strengthening existing cordial equation with Iran.
Farhatullah Babar described the visit as important and part of the policy to deepen economic and political cooperation with Iran, reach out regional states to address issues of stability and peace in the region, further peace process in Afghanistan and reverse the tide of terrorism.
President Zardari also called on the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei and discussed bilateral relations and the need to further strengthen these in all areas.
President Zardari and the Iranian Supreme Leader exchanged views on bilateral, regional and global issues of concern besides the fight against militancy.
The two leaders held two rounds of talks including the delegation level and one-to-one meeting. During the one-to-one meeting, President Ahmedinejad was also present.
The two leaders also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan, with particular reference to the gradual withdrawal of US forces.
This was President Zardari’s second meeting with the Iranian Supreme Leader. He last met him in June, when he was there to attend the international conference on the fight against terrorism.
Farhatullah Babar told the media persons that Iran’s Supreme Leader and President Zardari agreed on the need for further widening the scope of relations to encompass all spheres of interaction.
They were of the view that greater economic and commercial ties would not only boost their political but also their people-to-people contacts.
President Zardari said, “Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Iran and regards it an important friend and player in the region”. He said ties between the two countries were rooted in historical, cultural and religious bonds.
He said Pakistan believed in strengthening ties with its neighbours to bring about peace and stability in the region and to optimally benefit from shared development and prosperity.
President Zardari said Pakistan’s relations with other countries were based on principles of respect for their sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, non-intervention and non-interference. APP
