����ֱ��

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have signed agreements in the fields of politics, economy, culture and other vital sectors, Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday, as Tehran and Islamabad eye raising their bilateral trade to $10 billion.

Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan’s capital on Saturday on a two-day state visit to increase bilateral trade and strengthen relations between the two countries.

Pakistan and Iran have remained at odds over instability along their shared, porous border that even led to a missile exchange between them last year. Both countries, however, were quick to move to ease tensions.

Iran and Pakistan have attempted to forge closer economic and investment ties through border markets and trade links in recent years.

“My deep belief is that we can easily, in a short time, increase the volume of our trade relations from the current $3 billion to the projected goal of $10 billion,” Pezeshkian told reporters during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and high-level delegations from both countries in attendance.

“We reached good agreements in the political, economic, commercial, and cultural fields during this visit,” he said.

The Iranian president said Islamabad and Tehran had signed “important documents” that would facilitate and promote bilateral ties in commercial, cultural, tourism, transportation and scientific and educational exchanges between the two nations.

“The development of transit routes, railroad and sea routes, the development and equipping of border markets facilitating trade and the establishment of joint free economic zones, are serious needs in the relations between the two countries,” Pezeshkian noted.

“And we had constructive discussions on those issues.”

Pakistan and Iran routinely trade blame for not tackling militancy in their shared border areas. The Iranian president said the issue had come up in talks between both sides.

“Also, given the threats from terrorist groups in border areas, increasing cooperation between the two countries to ensure border security and the peace and comfort of citizens in border cities was emphasized,” he said.

The Iranian president condemned Israel for its military operations in Palestine, Syria and other areas of the Middle East, calling for the cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

Sharif welcomed the Iranian president to Pakistan and said the two sides held fruitful discussions on culture, religion, history and geography.

He condemned Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, saying there was no justification for the attacks. Both leaders also called for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.

Both countries exchanged 12 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, Pakistani state media reported.

The agreements included collaboration in science, technology and innovation, cooperation in information and communications technology, exchange programs for culture, art, tourism, youth, mass media and exports, cooperation in meteorology, climatology and related hazards, maritime safety and firefighting, judicial assistance in criminal matters, product certification, inspection and testing, and tourism cooperation.

The Pakistani prime minister hoped the memoranda of understanding signed between Pakistan and Iran would “soon” convert into agreements.

“Mr. President, today we have signed many MoUs and it is my prayer and your wish that these MoUs become agreements very soon,” Sharif said.

“And it is your wish and mine too that we achieve the target of $10 billion in trade as soon as possible,” he added.

He said Iran and Pakistan had the same stance when it came to “terrorism,” adding that both countries were opposed to it.

Sharif vowed that Pakistan and Iran, through partnership and cooperation, would take steps against militants to ensure peace in their border areas.

In a meeting with President Pezeshkian later, PM Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran after it fought “Israel’s aggression” in their 12-day war in June. He also thanked Iran for its strong support to Pakistan during a Pakistan-India military standoff in May, according to Sharif’s office.

During the talks, both sides also exchanged views on important regional and global developments.

“The Prime Minister thanked the Iranian leadership for Iran’s vocal and active support for the innocent Palestinian people, who have been suffering brutal aggression at the hands of Israeli security forces,” Sharif’s office said in a statement, calling for an immediate end to “Israeli barbarity” against innocent people of Gaza who were being “forced to starve.”

“Both leaders urged the international community to act swiftly to resolve this crisis.”