Raisi announces an agreement to increase trade relations and Sharif is committed to “firm and stable” relations
April 22 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, has opted this Monday from Pakistan to enhance bilateral cooperation, including a boost in the trade sector and reinforcement in anti-terrorism matters, within the framework of a three-day visit that comes after bilateral tensions following an exchange of bombings in January against positions of Baloch terrorist groups in their territories.
Raisi has stated from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, that the ties between both countries are “unbreakable” and has stressed the importance of improving relations at an economic, political, commercial and cultural level, as well as to combat terrorist groups operating in both territories.
“We are both determined to fight against insecurity, organized crime, drug trafficking and all types of insecurity. It is a vision shared by both countries and revolves around the defense of Human Rights,” he said, before highlighting that ” “Some might not like the cooperation between the two countries, but it doesn't matter.”
“The important thing is that cooperation between both governments continues for the benefit of their population,” he noted, before announcing an agreement to increase trade relations between Tehran and Islamabad by 10 billion dollars (about 9.39 billion euros), according to The Iranian news agency IRNA has reported.
For his part, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also opted to strengthen bilateral relations “despite the challenges.” “Pakistan and Iran can prosper and our borders can see progress,” he explained.
Sharif has therefore expressed his hope that relations between both countries will be “firm and stable” and has highlighted that Raisi's visit represents an opportunity to make “this friendship a happy and prosperous relationship”, as reported the Pakistani newspaper 'Dawn'.
The governments of Iran and Pakistan agreed in late January to return their ambassadors to their respective posts, which was followed by a visit by Amirabdolahian to Islamabad, in an attempt by both countries to normalize relations after their respective bombings.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard carried out attacks against “terrorists” of the armed group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistani territory, after which Islamabad reported the death of two children. The Pakistani army subsequently bombed Iranian territory, claiming that its target was members of the armed groups Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), after which Tehran claimed that the attacks had left nine dead.
In recent years, Iran and Pakistan have exchanged accusations about the presence of Baloch armed groups on both sides of the border that use these bases to carry out attacks, although they had always remained in diplomatic channels with the commitment to strengthen cooperation in the face of which they describe as a shared threat.
