Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir concluded his two-day visit to Iran, the military’s media wing said on Sunday. Both countries have stressed the need for boosting cooperation at the shared borders and combating terrorist groups.
“During his visit, the COAS had detailed meetings with the military leadership of Iran including Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations in a statement. “Military commanders on both sides agreed that Terrorism was a common threat to the region in general and both countries in particular.”
Gen Munir arrived in Iran on a two-day visit on Saturday with a high-ranking military delegation. He met with the top leadership of the Islamic Republic during the visit and discussed ways to improve bilateral interactions to develop the level of cooperation in different fields.
They vowed to eradicate the menace of terrorism in the border areas through intelligence sharing and effective actions against the terrorists’ networks, and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in the security domain.
COAS Munir also called on Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister HE Hossein Amir Abdollahain. The significance of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations for regional peace and stability was highlighted during discussions.
He was presented with the guard of honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of Iranian armed forces at the military headquarters on his arrival.
“The Iranian foreign minister and Pakistan’s army chief stressed boosting cooperation at the shared borders and combating terrorist groups,” Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported.
The statement was issued after a meeting between Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and COAS Gen Munir in Tehran on Sunday.
Amir-Abdollahian expressed appreciation for the “positive and constructive role” played by the Pakistani army commander in border security cooperation and the fight against terrorism. He called for turning the shared borders into “economically thriving borders” and expanding border markets in order to benefit the citizens on both sides of the borders and contribute to the development of the provinces located on the shared borders.
The Iranian minister expressed hope that the two countries by adopting a strategic approach to Islamic world issues would take greater steps in deepening their bilateral relations amid the new dynamics prevailing in the region.
COAS Gen Munir referred to the religious, cultural and historical commonalities between the two countries. “Pakistan is pleased to have a neighbour like Iran and welcomes the expansion of relations in all areas,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.
The Pakistani army chief stressed the importance of the agreements reached with Iranian officials during the trip, expressing hope that the people of both countries would see the effects of this cooperation as soon as possible.
The two sides also discussed expanding economic relations, the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and electricity exports during the meeting.
