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
Uzbekistan president arrives in Pakistan to increase trade, defense, energy cooperation
- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev leads high-level delegation of ministers, business leaders on Feb. 5-6 visit, says state media
- Visit takes place days after Pakistan, Uzbekistan reaffirmed $2 billion trade target during intergovernmental commission meeting
ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Thursday, with a high-level delegation to identify new avenues for bilateral cooperation in trade, defense, energy and other avenues, state-run media reported.
The visit takes place after the 10th session of the Pakistan–Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation was held in Islamabad on Feb. 2. Both sides reaffirmed their $2 billion trade target and agreed to push for regional connectivity, develop trade routes and accelerate cooperation in several sectors.
Mirziyoyev was given a red-carpet welcome when his aircraft landed at the Nur Khan Airbase, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. He was welcomed by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior members of the cabinet.
“Discussions will focus on reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations and identifying new avenues to further deepen cooperation in diverse sectors, including trade, energy, defense, education, people-to-people exchange and regional connectivity,” APP reported.
The Uzbek president will meet President Zardari, hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Sharif, and address the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum during his visit.
Mirziyoyev’s visit takes place two days after Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Islamabad to hold talks on trade, business and connectivity.
Pakistan and Kazakhstan signed 37 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and set a target of raising bilateral trade to $1 billion within a year during Tokayev’s visit.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan have steadily increased economic ties in recent years as Islamabad seeks greater access to landlocked Central Asian markets, aiming to position itself as a regional transit and trade hub linking South Asia with Central Asia.
Pakistan was the first Central Asian partner with which Uzbekistan signed a bilateral Transit Trade Agreement, along with a Preferential Trade Agreement in March 2022, covering 17 items, which became operational in 2023.
Pakistan’s finance ministry said last month that Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR was set to finalize an investment in the country’s oil and gas sector following high-level engagements at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
