Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday reaffirmed their shared commitment to eliminating terrorism and strengthening security cooperation along their borders.
According to a statement issued by the Iranian Embassy, the commitment was renewed during a telephone conversation between Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi. Iranian state news agency IRNA said the Iranian official had said Tehran was prepared to work jointly with Islamabad to eradicate terrorism and secure the common border.
He also expressed solidarity with Pakistan’s flood-affected people, saying Iran would “proudly provide any assistance within its power to dear brothers in Pakistan.” The Iranian commander also commended Pakistan’s support for Tehran during its recent 12-day conflict with Israel, noting the two countries had been cooperating on multiple levels.
The call followed an official visit to Pakistan by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier this month. During the visit, Pezeshkian held separate meetings with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership, as well as addressing the Pakistan-Iran Business Forum in Islamabad.
The neighboring countries exchanged 12 agreements and MoUs to promote cooperation in diverse areas, including plant protection and quarantine, joint use of the Mirjaveh-Taftan border gate, collaboration in science and technology, culture and media exchanges, meteorology, maritime safety, judicial assistance, air services, product certification, and tourism cooperation.
Addressing a joint press conference with the Iranian president, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said both countries shared a view of zero tolerance for terrorism. He said that any victim of terrorism in Iran was akin to a victim of terror in Pakistan, adding the brotherly countries would take effective measures to eliminate terrorism.