ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on a landmark visit to Pakistan, his first since becoming president, on Friday called for political solutions to the regional problems and conflicts.


The visit of Iranian president comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is courting Islamabad to actively participate in a Saudi-led 34-state anti-terrorism military coalition, being perceived by Tehran as an anti-Shia block.


“Destabilisation of others causes everlasting conflicts that benefit nobody,” Rouhani had said, in a veiled reference to Saudi Arabia, on the eve of his two-day visit to Pakistan.


Speaking to reporters after one-on-one and delegation-level meetings on Friday, President Rouhani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said they wanted to build a relationship based on shared interests and economic development.


Rouhani said terrorism was a scourge both countries faced and that Pakistan’s security was as important to Iran as its own. “Pakistan and Iran consider each other’s security as their own. There is a will and resolve among two countries to combat extremist and terrorist elements and not to allow such groups to destroy peace in the region,” he told a joint press briefing.


The two sides announced to set up two additional border crossing points to bolster bilateral trade and economic relations that suffered a huge blow due to years of crippling international sanctions against Tehran. They also signed several memorandums of understanding in fields such as energy, health, diplomatic training, trade and commerce.


Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries suffered due to internationals sanctions against Iran. “Now, we have decided to strengthen our bilateral relations in areas of trade, economy and energy,” he said.


The prime minister said the decision to open two additional crossing points along Pak-Iran border has been taken to encourage trade and economic interaction as well as to facilitate people-to-people contacts between the two countries. He said Islamabad and Tehran enjoyed close and fraternal relations that were rooted in the shared history of culture and religion. He said his third meeting with the Iranian president in less than three years depicted the depth and warmth of bilateral relations.


Nawaz expressed hope that the relations between Pakistan and Iran will continue to grow for the mutual benefit of the two countries. He said Hassan Rouhani’s election as president depicted the confidence of the people of Iran in his leadership.


He also extended Nauroz greetings to the Iranian president and his delegation.


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the two sides discussed ways and means to explore new avenues of cooperation in energy sector, including the export of electricity from Iran to Pakistan, besides diversification of trade and economic relations between the two countries. He said the two sides also deliberated on the ways to boost bilateral trade by means of preferential trade and move forward for a free trade agreement between Pakistan and Iran.


The Iranian president said the two sides also explored the possibility of sea trade through Pakistan’s Gwadar Port and Iran’s Chahbahar Port.The Iranian president was of the view that the two sides needed to enhance cultural relations as well as regional cooperation.President Rouhani also extended greetings to the people and government of Pakistan on the Pakistan Day.


Rouhani’s visit is also a landmark moment for Iran after international sanctions were lifted in the wake of the nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and the world powers. “I believe that at this crucial moment of the history of relations between the two countries, it is essential that Pakistan and Iran lay the cornerstone of a new bilateral engagement based on the mutual interests of the two countries,” Rouhani said in a statement on the eve of his maiden visit to Pakistan. President Rouhani, during his visit, is also likely to discuss the gas pipeline from Iran, through Pakistan to India. While Iran has invested over $2 billion in the project, Pakistan has yet to finish construction on its half of the pipeline.


(DAILY TIMES, MARCH 26TH 2016)

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