Iran on Tuesday called for improving coordination with Pakistan to strengthen border security and prevent cross-border terrorist attacks, assuring Islamabad of Tehran’s commitment to deny terrorists any space to target its neighboring country.
Addressing a reception at the Iranian embassy after concluding an official visit to Islamabad, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi admitted existing coordination was lacking, but stressed the leadership of both sides was determined to correct this. “I told Pakistani officials that we consider terrorism against you as a threat against us,” he said after meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army chief Gen. Asim Munir.
Referring to his conversation with Gen. Munir, the Iranian minister said he had assured the Army chief that Iran and Pakistan are united in countering terrorism. He said the neighbors needed to devise a mechanism to enable liaison officers to work effectively. He also pointed to a link between terrorism and Israel, highlighting the “coincidence” of the latest terror attacks accompanying Israeli strikes.
Earlier, addressing a joint press briefing, Deputy Prime Minister Dar also voiced a commitment to improve border management and cooperation on shared security challenges. “We agreed to intensify collaboration on border management and to address shared challenges,” he said, emphasizing joint efforts to eradicate terrorism and extremism. Agreeing with him, Araghchi said security challenges facing Pakistan and Iran were externally motivated, adding both sides had agreed to continue counter-terrorism cooperation through “military, security, and political channels.”
The Iranian official also discussed the pending gas pipeline project between Pakistan and Iran, saying Tehran was willing to engage in dialogue with Islamabad to resolve the matter. “There is goodwill on both sides,” he said, regretting the delay in completing the “strategic” project due to “well-known” forces, an apparent reference to the United States.
On Israeli aggression in Iran and its genocidal actions in Palestine and Lebanon, the Iranian foreign minister appreciated Pakistan for its condemnations, maintaining they were stronger than “others in the region.”
According to a statement, Araghchi and Dar also discussed the upcoming joint summit of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Iran, it said, hoped the summit would take “concrete” steps to end the Israeli atrocities in Palestine and Lebanon. The foreign minister warned that if Israel is not stopped now, it could expand its operations to other states.