ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Friday said Pakistan and Iran were tied in decades-long religious, social, cultural and political bonds and that nothing could come in the way of brotherly Pak-Iran relations.
He said this while talking to Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost, who called on him here at the Punjab House.
Matters relating to PakIran bilateral relations, Iranian President’s recent visit to Pakistan and the assistance sought from the Government of Iran regarding arrest of a RAW agent from Balochistan were discussed during the meeting, said a press release.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over the recent visit of President Hassan Rouhani to Pakistan.
The momentum created by the recent high-level visit should be fully utilized for further deepening of PakIran relations in all possible areas, said Chaudhry Nisar.
“We need to build on the gains of the past and work hand in hand to overcome our shared challenges and achieve common objectives for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries,” the Interior Minister said.
Nisar said the joint Pak-Iran stance on various issues in the region at international fora would deter the foes from any malice against the two countries.
The Iranian Ambassador assured the minister that the Government of Iran would extend full cooperation on all issues that ensured security and development in Pakistan and Iran.
He said good relations between the two countries should result in tangible improvement in bilateral trade and developmental projects.
“We have to remove the impediments in way of further strengthening of our bilateral relations,” he added.
The Ambassador deplored certain attempts in some sections of the media to negatively impact relations between the two countries in spite of greatly successful visit of President Rouhani.
The Interior Minister said that media in Pakistan was independent ‘but that did not mean that we can allow anybody to affect our relations.’
He said all sections of Pakistani society were unanimous in their support for stronger Pak-Iran relations.