Islamabad: Pakistan and Iran engaged in discussions concerning regional and international situations during a meeting between Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Dr. Ali Larijani, and Pakistani leadership.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Larijani met with President Asif Zardari at the President House in Islamabad. The discussions focused on regional and international issues, security, and counterterrorism. President Zardari emphasized the positive momentum in bilateral ties, highlighted by frequent exchanges between Islamabad and Tehran. He recalled his meeting with the Iranian President in August and expressed appreciation for Iran's solidarity with Pakistan following recent floods, particularly the humanitarian aid provided by the Iranian Red Crescent.
The President underscored the importance of cooperation between neighboring countries, citing shared interests. He reiterated Pakistan's support for Iran amid Israeli aggression and praised the resilience of the Iranian people. The President also advocated for strengthening the rail link between Pakistan and Iran to bolster trade and tourism, and he stressed the need for a mutually workable solution regarding the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline, given Pakistan's increasing energy demands. He welcomed recent technical discussions and anticipated further talks in Tehran.
Larijani noted that following the Iranian President's visit to Pakistan, directives were issued to grant preferential access to Pakistani products in Iran, aiming to achieve the bilateral trade target of USD 10 billion.
Additionally, Larijani met with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House. The Prime Minister acknowledged Iran's positions on regional issues and expressed gratitude for Iran's support during challenging times. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to working closely with Iran for a peaceful and prosperous future.