Zarif, Imran Khan discuss closer ties

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan held talks about a host of topics, including ways to boost bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries and latest regional developments.

Speaking at the meeting in Islamabad on Friday, Zarif underlined the importance of closer cooperation between the two countries, including efforts to connect Iran’s port city of Chabahar to Pakistan’s Gwadar.

He further called for using the capacities of the two port cities in line with the two countries’ national interests.

The Pakistani Prime Minister, for his part, pointed to his last month’s visit to Iran and voiced Islamabad’s willingness to expand ties and cooperation with Tehran in various areas.

In a separate meeting held on the same day, Zarif and the speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Asad Qaiser, exchanged views about a range of issues, including ways to boost parliamentary relations between the two countries.

Zarif, who has stepped up diplomatic contacts with Asian governments in recent weeks, arrived in Islamabad on Thursday night for an official visit.

SS