The Foreign Ministers of Iran and Pakistan stress the importance of continuing cooperation in combating terrorism

Tehran (ST) – The Iranian Foreign minister, Hussein Amer Abdullahin considered Pakistan’s security to be on par  with Iran’s security, stressing the importance of the continuing  cooperation and close communication between officials of the two countries in various fields.

Last night, during a telephone call with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Gilani, Abdullahian reaffirmed Iran’s respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a friendly, sister and neighbor country.

He pointed out that the so-called “Army of Justice” group is a terrorist group that targets the common security of Iran and Pakistan, explaining that the security of his countries has repeatedly been threatened  by this group from the inside of Pakistan. While the Iranian armed forces carried out operations against this group without any Pakistani citizen being targeted.

Abdullahian stressed the importance of continuing dialogue, consensus and cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad regarding bilateral issues, including the phenomenon of terrorist groups. He is looking forward to the continued exchange of views in the correct direction of relations between the two countries and in line with stronger security cooperation.

For his part, the Pakistani Foreign Minister referred to the common goals of the two countries and the history of Iran and Pakistan in defending each other and fighting terrorism. He stressed that Iran’s security is the same as Pakistan’s security, and that whenever there is a threat from Pakistani territory against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamabad takes action against it.

Gilani pointed out that Islamabad expects that terrorist groups inside Pakistan will be confronted by the Pakistani armed forces themselves.

Souha Suleiman