Araghchi identifies peace, security as key goals in relations with Islamabad

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday described peace and security as the central aims of stronger ties with Pakistan, in comments delivered during a meeting with Pakistan’s newly appointed ambassador to Tehran, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui.

According to a monitored public feed from Dawn, Araghchi received copies of Siddiqui’s credentials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran before the two sides discussed bilateral relations, regional developments and possible areas of cooperation. The Iranian minister thanked Pakistan for its diplomatic efforts in recent regional developments and said the present period offered an opportunity to deepen relations between the neighbouring countries.

Araghchi said peace and security were shared goals for both sides and stressed the importance of closer bilateral engagement. The meeting also reaffirmed a commitment to longstanding friendship and to expanding cooperation for mutual benefit.

The diplomatic exchange came as efforts continued to contain the latest round of hostilities between the United States and Iran. Dawn reported that a previous Islamabad-mediated understanding had fallen apart because of differing interpretations of the memorandum reached between the two sides, especially over arrangements linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan and Iran share a 900-kilometre border and maintain long-standing historical, cultural and religious ties, although the relationship has periodically been strained by cross-border militant activity and wider regional security concerns.

Separately, Iranian Interior Minister Eskander Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday night for talks with Pakistani leaders on the US-Iran conflict. He was received on arrival by Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, according to the feed.

During his visit, Momeni is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who serves as Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff. Dawn said the Iranian minister will discuss the US-Iran standoff with Pakistani officials on Tuesday.

Pakistan has taken on a more visible diplomatic role in the crisis this year, hosting talks, carrying messages between the parties and helping secure a temporary understanding earlier in the year. At the same time, Islamabad and Tehran have continued to talk about broader cooperation, including trade, connectivity through Pakistani and Iranian ports, and the long-delayed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. However, the feed noted that progress on those plans remains constrained by US sanctions on Iran, banking limits and border security concerns.

This report is based on a monitored public feed and is attributed to Dawn World.

Source: Dawn World - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017147/araghchi-identifies-peace-security-as-key-goals-in-relations-with-islamabad