ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday during a two-day visit to the neighboring country.
Zarif’s visit to Pakistan forms part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries, the foreign office said. This is his fourth visit to Pakistan in the last two and a half years.
Relations between Iran and Pakistan have been strained in the last two years, with both sides accusing each other of not doing enough to stamp out militants allegedly sheltering across the border.
“Friendly relations and neighborliness of the two countries, border and defense affairs, as well as peace and security in the region were discussed during the meeting,” Pakistan’s military wing said about Zarif’s meeting with the army chief.
Zarif also met Qureshi and discussed “issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations, promotion of bilateral cooperation in multilateral fields, and the [coronavirus] epidemic situation.”
“The two Foreign Ministers also discussed issues related to better border management, promotion of bilateral ties and better facilities for visitors,” the Pakistani foreign office said, adding that they agreed to make joint efforts for peace and stability in the region, including peace in Afghanistan.
“The two Foreign Ministers, while expressing concern over the growing trend of Islamophobia in some European countries, made it clear that abusive behavior under the guise of freedom of expression is not tolerable,” the foreign office said.
Zarif will also call on Prime Minister Imran Khan today.
Iranian media reported on Tuesday that Zarif would lead a high-ranking political and economic delegation to discuss various issues, including effective management of a 900-km shared border with Pakistan.
Last year, Iran and Pakistan said they would form a joint quick reaction force to combat militant activity on their shared border. Pakistan began fencing its border with Iran in May 2019.
In May this year, Pakistan’s military chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke to his Iranian counterpart Major General Mohammed Bagheri via telephone and discussed border fencing, improvement of border terminals, enhancing security and recent attacks on Pakistani troops near the border, among other issues, according to a statement from the Pakistani Army’s media wing.
Iranian foreign minister discusses border and defense issues with Pakistani leaders
https://arab.news/n7gy5
Iranian foreign minister discusses border and defense issues with Pakistani leaders
- Javed Zarif is in Islamabad on a two-day visit where he will meet the army chief, foreign minister and prime minister
- The two countries pledge to work together for stability in the region, including peace in Afghanistan
Pakistan PM to attend World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland next month
- The WEF meeting, scheduled to be held in Davos on Jan. 19-23, will focus on global challenges, public-private dialogue and cooperation
- Government, business, civil society and academia leaders will engage in forward-looking discussions to address these issues, set priorities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Switzerland next month to attend the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistani state media reported on Monday.
The WEF annual meeting, themed as ‘A Spirit of Dialogue,’ will be held from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23 in Davos, where world leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to interact with global leaders and investors on economic challenges, regional and international issues and various opportunities for cooperation.
On Monday, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting in Islamabad to oversee preparations for Sharif’s upcoming visit to Switzerland to attend the WEF meeting, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Dar instructed to maximize the engagements with the incoming Heads of States, Governments and senior leadership of economic, business and financial institutions,” the report read.
The WEF meeting program will be structured around key global challenges where public-private dialogue and cooperation, involving all stakeholders, is necessary for progress, according to the WEF website.
In addressing these challenges, growth, resilience and innovation will serve as cross-cutting imperatives, guiding how leaders engage with today’s complexity and pursue tomorrow’s opportunities.
Pakistani foreign ministry officials briefed the deputy PM about preparations for the WEF meeting, according to Radio Pakistan. The participants of Monday’s meeting in Islamabad discussed in detail the bilateral component and media engagements during the visit.
“He [Dar] further stressed that opportunities be explored to foster collaboration with private sector business entities,” the state broadcaster said.
