ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam said that cross border terrorism is a common threat to Pakistan and Iran, which both countries need to make a joint plan to deal with.
Iran-Pakistan common border is destined to be the border of trade and peace, he added.
There is a common border of 960 kilometers between the two countries, for the security of which and to fight against the common enemies, Pakistan and Iran will have to fight against the common enemy under a plan which is dangerous not only for the two countries but also for the peace of the region, Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan said this while talking to the News here in his office.
In an exclusive meeting, the Iranian envoy said that it is difficult to communicate along the border of 960km with long and difficult geography, but both the countries are continuing their efforts in this regard and the process of discussion is going on in this regard.
He said that the incidents of kidnapping, ransom and violence on both sides of the border are also related to terrorism and these common enemies give rise to misunderstandings between the two countries, adding efforts are being made by both sides to address them. The ambassador said that there is a need to increase economic and trade activities in the Pakistan-Iran border, thereby reducing cross-border terrorism.
He said that terrorism in both countries originated first from the Soviet attack on Afghanistan and then the post-9/11 invasion of the country. All this negatively impacted the Pak-Iran border, he added.
The ambassador said that terrorism is a common threat to the two countries. He said that poverty, unemployment and backwardness supply the human sources to terrorist groups.
He said that third parties abuse the land of the two countries against each other to accentuate misunderstandings. He said that third parties’ destructive measures during the years by abusing common borders.
The Iranian envoy said that job creation and employment, development, and empowering different walks of life in the region to feed themselves and their families can lead to the resolution of the problems.
Inauguration of the two border crossings in Rimdan-Gabed and Pishin-Mand along with Mirjaveh-Taftan and also the border markets can contribute to the economic welfare, he said. He said that an economic and trade free zone at the common border can boost trade leading to development of the region and well-being of the people.
The Iranian ambassador said that at present there is no banking channel between Pakistan and Iran due which the volume of mutual trade is much less than its potential, which both countries need to work on. He said that by the end year 2023, the volume of mutual trade between Pakistan and Iran will be $2.4 billion, which is much less than its own volume. He said that at this time the banking channel of Turkey, Bahrain and some other countries is open with Iran.
The Iranian ambassador said that the current trade between Iran and Pakistan is the result of the efforts of Balochistan and Pakhtun businessmen. He expressed hope that the new government in Pakistan will increase the trade between the two countries and there are wide opportunities for trade in agricultural products from Pakistan to Iran, especially rice, meat and other food items already imported.
Meanwhile, he said that the role of the media is very important in promoting the relations between Pakistan and Iran, for which the media has to play a responsible role. He said that senior journalists from Iran will visit Pakistan soon so that they can increase the awareness of Iranian people about Pakistan.
