Pakistan's Sharif Asks for Broader Ties with Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had a meeting with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the 68th session of UN General Assembly in New York during which he called for further improvement of bilateral ties with Iran.
Rouhani and Sharif discussed bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries, including energy cooperation, and touched on the menace of terrorism that has afflicted Pakistan and the situation in Afghanistan which borders both countries.
The two sides agreed that Afghanistan’s neighbours needed to work closely with its government and lend their support to a comprehensive peace process led by Afghans and involving all stakeholders in that country, as foreign troops stationed there are scheduled to leave the country by the end of next year.
Both officials were also agreed on the need for cooperation in campaign against the scourge of terrorism that has killed thousands of people in Pakistan in recent years.
The Pakistani prime minister said that more intensive consultations between the two neighboring countries, which share historical, cultural and religious commonalities, can also contribute to resolving the regional crises.
Nawaz Sharif also said that he would soon send a delegation to Tehran led by Pakistan’s oil minister to pursue the issues related to Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and energy cooperation which he said would serve the interests of both nations.
He invited President Rouhani to visit his country, which was accepted by the Iranian president who expressed hope to make it at his earliest convenience.
