Iran’s soil won’t be used against Pakistan, assures Zarif

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has revealed that Tehran foiled attempts by two suicide bombers trying to cross the border with Pakistan's help yesterday.

In an interview with Capital Talk anchor Hamid Mir, the Iranian Foreign Minister stated that security ties with Islamabad are improving and we shall continue to cooperate with Pakistani counterparts to strengthen bilateral relations.

Talking about Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Zarif said that Tehran has shared all the information available with Iranian security agencies and assured that “our soil will not be used against Pakistan”.

Zarif expressed disappointment over failure of Pakistan's efforts to bridge the gap between Iran and Saudi Arabia. “We welcomed Nawaz Sharif's gesture to bring the two Muslim countries closer but Riyadh gave a cold shoulder.”

Iran is willing to join China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and ready to include Beijing in Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.

Javad Zarif is on a three-day visit to Pakistan during which he would meet  civilian and military leadership.

During the meetings, Iran sent out a strong message to the Pakistani leadership that Iran’s relations with India are not aimed against Pakistan.

Zarif appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for strengthening border management to prevent illegal cross-border activities. He invited Pakistan and China to invest in the port of Chabahar strategically situated at the mouth of Straits of Hormuz and said both countries will need to cooperate to eliminate  terrorism from the region.

Meeting with COAS

Today the visiting dignitary called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters (GHQ).

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security and Pakistan-Iran relations came under the discussion, said a press release issued here by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The Iranian minster appreciated bilateral security engagements during the recent months and measures initiated by both sides to improve Pakistan-Iran border security.

The COAS said that regional peace was dependent upon wider cooperation within West Asia. “We all need to cooperate to root out transnational security and crimes threat,” he said.