Iran-Pakistan Relations Strengthen as Leaders Maintain Continuous Engagement
Mehr news Agency, International Desk: Iran and Pakistan share a rich history of cultural, economic, and strategic relations strengthened by their common border and strong peopel-to-people ties.This partnership plays a key role in enhancing regional stability, economic development, and cooperation across various sectors including trade, energy, and security.
In this context, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tehran, spoke exclusively with Mehr news Agency about the multifaceted dimensions of bilateral relations, challenges ahead, and emerging opportunities. He emphasized the importance of regional engagement for achieving peace and prosperity. The full interview follows:
What are the main pillars of Iran-Pakistan relations?
As you know, Iran and pakistan share profound ideological, ancient, cultural, and geographical ties. We represent two great nations: Iran with a civilization spanning 2,500 years; Pakistan established on August 14th 1947.
Today Pakistan is a strong country with important regional and global influence. Our relationship is robust at every level-political, diplomatic, commercial, military-and has grown even deeper over the past two years. Citizens from both countries travel regularly for pilgrimage and also to bolster economic connections.
What challenges exist in bilateral economic relations?
Every bilateral relationship faces opportunities alongside challenges; however,the key point is that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remains in active dialog with dr. Masoud Pezeshkian – President of Iran - while our foreign ministers maintain constant contact thru ongoing political-diplomatic discussions.
We have multiple mechanisms such as the Joint Economic Commission scheduled for next month. From my perspective,we must fully leverage these ties’ potential. Both countries need to focus on economic growth by establishing a free trade zone linking business communities effectively.
How have sanctions affected trade between Iran and Pakistan-especially energy cooperation?
I always look at this from an chance standpoint.the interactions between our commercial sectors are increasing.We also have a joint border trade committee,and border officials are working tirelessly to improve infrastructure there.
The emphasis should be on opportunities; challenges will always exist,but progress depends on how we move forward together.
could projects like the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline or China-pakistan Economic Corridor serve as platforms for trilateral cooperation among China,Iran,and Pakistan?
The geography here is unique: China hosts 1.4 billion people,Iran around 92 million,and pakistan approximately 255 million.These locations offer access to Central Asia Europe,and Africa alike.
IranandPakistanhaveexceptionalgeostrategicpositions.ourstrategicrelationshipwithchinaandhistoricalbondsbetweentheregionalneighborscanformthefoundationforbroadercooperation.ThecapacityforeconomicdevelopmentandinvestmentisincrediblyhighinbothIranandPakistanwhileChinapossesseseconomictollgidexperiencethatcanbefullyutilized.Withacollectiveapproach,wecankeepbringingregiocountriesclosertogetherformutualbenefit.
How doIranandPakistanc contribuetoregionalstability ,especially regarding Afghanistan? what actions havebeen taken so far?
ThesecurityagenciesofIranandPakisthavegoodinteractionfightingdrugtrafficking ,illegal immigration ,transnationalbordercrime .Ourregionhasfacedseriouschallenges,buthighlevelleadershipinsupportingpartnershipsisbasedonclearguidancefrombothcountries .
Where doesIranstandintheframeworkofPakistan’ssecuritystrategy? Wesharean900-kilometerborderandhavedeepculturallinksthatbindournations.Intheinternationalforums liketheUnitedNationsandoftheOrganizationoftheIslamicCooperation,wesupporteachotherconsistently.IraniasholdsaspecialpositionforPakistanandinversely.WhentheattacksonPakistanbyIndiaoccurredorwhenIranwasengagedinwartime ,omegaandedefenserightsinthecontextofinternational lawwereunwaveringly upheldbypakistaninstancesthatshowthisrelationship’sdepth .
What was pakistans position regarding Israel’s 12-day aggressive war against iran ?
Wecondemned it strongly.Manycountriesdidnot,butpakistantookapositionagainstmarkedsupporttothesovereignrightsofIrantodefenditselfunderUNCharter.PakistsupportediranfullyindiplomaticinstitutionsincludingArabLeague,OIC,andUN.OurPrimeMinisterandForeignMinistermaintainedfrequentcontactwithMr.AraghchiandrD.Pezehskian.Mobilerangingleadershipbetweenourtwo countryshasbeenneverendingsince.PakistanzeroedtirelesslyinadvoctingIraninallinternationalfora .
Howdoyouseethefutureofiran-and-pakistanrelations ? I am very hopeful.Inrecent twoyearstheserelationshavebecomestrong.PMShahbazSharifvisitedIrantwiceholdingmajor talkswithLeaderoftheRevolutionandrecentPresidentMr.Pezhskian.HashemAraghchialsofrequentlytravelledto pakistan.GeneralAsimMunir,theChiefoftheArmystaff,hadsuccessfulvisittoiran.Securitycooperationbetweenourtwocountriesremainacornerstoneforeveryonebecauseitisaguaranteeofthelongtermregionalpeace-notmerelyfortwoneighbors.Thisrelationisvitalfortherightfullybroader regionalsecurityenvironmentatlarge.aswell.
