Border security Iran, Pakistan strategic goal: Min

Addressing a ceremony marking Pakistan National Day late Tuesday, he said that opening new border crossings, increasing capacity of border markets, controlling illegal crossings, fighting drug, goods and human trafficking as well as close cooperation between the two countries for common campaign against the terrorists and insurgents are among the major areas of cooperation in the field.

“Iran and Pakistan have always been forerunner in forging friendly and brotherly and balanced ties on the basis of mutual respect and common interests over the past 70 years,” he said.

Promoting ties with neighbors has been and will be among the serious strategies of the all governments of the Islamic Republic, particularly President Rouhani’s administration, he said.

“Despite some obstacles in the way of promoting bilateral economic relations, the two countries’ trade and economic exchanges registered an increase of 33 percent last year,” Rahmani-Fazli said, noting that holding meetings of joint economic, border and security commissions successfully indicates that bilateral ties are improving.

The two countries’ agreement to boost cooperation in all fields brought various delegations to Iran, which is indicative of further proximity and solidarity between the countries, he said.

“I am sure that target of promoting trade exchanges to over five billion dollars in coming years is attainable,” the minister said.

Signing free trade agreement and desirable implementation of preferential trade agreement will lay the groundwork for boosting economic ties in the shortest possible time, he said.

The Interior minister further noted that developing Chabahar and Gwadar ports which serve as complementary to each other will help promote trade between the two countries and contribute to the region’s economic prosperity.

Iran which holds biggest proven gas reserves in the world is ready to meet energy needs of the friendly and neighboring state of Pakistan, he said.
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