Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says Iran and Pakistan have “inseparable” bonds and are determined to bolster their relations in different fields at all levels.
Raeisi made the remarks in a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday.
He said Iran and Pakistan should make use of their great capacities to serve the interests of the two states and nations, adding that both sides agreed to improve relations in the economic, political, commercial and cultural fields.
He emphasized that Tehran and Islamabad share the same stance on fighting terrorism, insecurity, organized crimes and illicit drugs.
The two countries’ key focus is on strengthening bilateral, regional and international cooperation with the purpose of defending human rights, the Iranian chief executive stated.
He pointed to the “unacceptable” level of trade and economic relations between the two countries and expressed both sides’ determination to increase exchanges to $10 billion.
Raeisi noted that the Iranian nation has succeeded in turning cruel Western sanctions into an opportunity for the country’s development and added that Tehran is ready to transfer its experience in the fields of science and technology, transportation and transit to Islamabad.
Intl. bodies, so-called rights advocates lost efficiency: Raeisi
Elsewhere in the presser, Raeisi commended the Pakistani people’s unrelenting support for Islamic values and the oppressed people of Palestine and Gaza.
He said the world is saddened over the fact that the international organizations and the so-called advocates of human rights have lost their efficiency while the United Nations Security Council refrains from fulfilling its duties.
Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Raeisi arrived in the Pakistani capital on Monday on a key official visit aimed at promoting security and trade ties. He is scheduled to wrap up his visit on Wednesday and head for Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Iran, Pakistan call on world to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza: Sharif
The Pakistani prime minister, for his part, said Tehran and Islamabad have expressed their concern over Israel’s war in Gaza and asked the world to immediately put an end to the regime’s act of genocide in the strip.
Sharif added that an independent Palestinian country with al-Quds as its capital should be established.
He praised Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s legitimate support for the Palestinian people.
Israel waged its brutal US-backed war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.
However, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its declared objectives of “destroying Hamas” and finding Israeli captives despite killing at least 34,151 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 77,084 others.
Iran, Pakistan sign 8 documents of cooperation
In the presence of Raeisi and Sharif, the Iranian and Pakistani officials signed eight documents for promoting cooperation in various fields.
According to the documents, Tehran and Islamabad will boost cooperation in the sectors of trade, science and technology, agriculture, health and culture as well as legal and judicial affairs.
The establishment of free trade zones along with the common border crossings, cooperation in the cinema and media sector, animal health, security, cooperatives and social welfare, standard, legal and judicial assistance in civil and commercial affairs were among main issues of the documents signed between the two sides.
