Sanctions no more: Pakistan, Iran agree to bolster security, trade

Sign six agreements; agree to open two more border crossing points

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Iran agreed on Friday to boost security ties while bolstering bilateral relations in diverse areas of trade, economy and energy.

The two countries also signed six agreements and decided to open up two more crossing points along their borders.

“Our trade and economic ties have suffered due to sanctions. We have agreed to strengthen our bilateral ties in diverse areas of trade, economy, energy and security,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said while addressing a joint press briefing along with Iranian President Hassan Rowhani at the PM House on Friday.

Rowhani arrived in Islamabad on a two-day state visit, his first after being elected as president in August 2013, and held talks with Nawaz on matters of mutual interest.

He said Pakistan and Iran consider each other’s security as their own security, adding there is a will and resolve among the two countries to combat extremist and terrorist groups and to prevent such elements from shattering peace in the region.

“[The] two countries are committed not to allow extremist and terrorist groups to threaten their shared border security,” Rowhani said, adding that they were determined to step up cooperation and consultation in the fight against terrorism and on bolstering regional security.

While emphasising the need to secure the porous border between them, the Iranian president said that security of the two countries is intertwined and interdependent which requires more effort.

Nawaz said the two leaders discussed wide range of issues during their one-on-one talks, which lasted for half an hour. They discussed bilateral relations as well as matters pertaining to regional and international importance.

Rowhani said the two sides discussed diversification of trade and economic relations and the ways and means to explore new opportunities of cooperation in energy sector, including the export of electricity from Iran to Pakistan, boosting bilateral trade by means of preferential trade and moving towards a free trade agreement between Pakistan and Iran.

The two sides also explored the possibility of sea trade through Gwadar and Chahbahar ports. The Iranian President said the two sides also need to enhance cultural relations as well as regional cooperation and for finding political solutions to regional problems and conflicts.

To better encourage trade and economic interaction as well as to facilitate people-to-people contact, Nawaz announced that both sides had agreed to open two additional border crossing points.

Agreements signed

Nawaz and Rowhani, after completing bilateral talks, oversaw the signing of six agreements between Pakistan and Iran in the fields of foreign relations, trade and health.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for five-year Strategic Trade Cooperation Plan was signed by Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir and Iran’s Minister of Industries Mohammad Nematzadeh.

Other agreements include cooperation between Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy and Iran’s School of International Relations; cooperation and information exchange between Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Central Insurance of Iran; cooperation between Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture of Iran; cooperation for research, training on health, medicine and medical technology and cooperation between Institute for Political and International Studies of Iran and Karachi Council on Foreign Relations of Pakistan (KCFR).

Earlier, Rowhani arrived in Islamabad at the head of a high-powered delegation for a two-day official visit. He was accorded a red carpet welcome at the Nur Khan Airbase and was received by the PM and cabinet members.

Rowhani, who was invited by Nawaz, was accorded a 21-gun salute. Static guards of the Pakistan Air Force also presented him with a salute. Later, when he arrived at the PM House, he was warmly received by Nawaz and presented a guard of honour. He is expected to hold meetings with President Mamnoon and Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz today (Saturday).


Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2016.