Daily Times

TEHRAN: Pakistan wants greater economic interaction and forging closer parliamentary relations with Iran.

This was stated by Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani during a meeting with Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Monday. He also felicitated the Iranian president on assuming the office for the second term.

He was also accompanied by a Parliamentary delegation of the Senate of Pakistan. Issues relating to Pakistan-Iran relations as well as the situation in the region came under discussion.

The Senate chairman highlighted the four point agenda which the government of Pakistan would like to pursue with Iran. This includes energy and connectivity, greater economic interaction, addressing the security issues and forging closer parliamentary relations between the two countries.

He thanked Iran for its principled stand on Kashmir which was recently expressed by the Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He also apprised the president about the plight of the Kashmiri people, who are suffering worst kind of torture at the hands of the occupied Indian forces which is using new tactics of brutalities through use of pallet guns. Hundreds of innocent Kashmiris have been blinded as a result of these brutalities.

President Rouhani recalled his two visits to Pakistan during past one year and hoped that the cordial relations between two countries will grow from strength to strength. Other members of the delegation present during the call include Senator Mir Mohammad Yousuf Badini, Senator Hidayat Ullah, Senator Ghous Mohammad Khan Niazi, Senator Raheela Magsi and Ambassador Asif Durrani.

Earlier, Senate Mian Raza Rabani arrived Tehran yesterday at the head of a Parliamentary delegation on the invitation of the Speaker of Iranian Majlis, H.E Ali Larijani to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of President Dr. Hassan Rouhani. The Senate chairman held bilateral meetings with Speaker Iranian Majlis Ali Larijani, who also hosted a banquet in his honour.

He held wide ranging discussions with Speaker Larijani ranging from bilateral to regional issues. They called for greater interaction between the parliamentarians of the two brotherly countries. In this regard they also agreed to enhance bilateral trade and achieve the target of US dollar five billion set by the leadership of the two countries.

During meetings with the above Iranian dignitaries, issues of mutual interest and current situation in the region came under discussion. It was highlighted that commonalities of history, culture and religion made Pakistan and Iran indispensable brothers who always stood by each other during difficult times. They also agreed that unity of the Muslim Ummah was essential to face the challenges of extremism and terrorism.

Referring to the Kashmir issue, he thanked the Iranian leadership for their principled stand on Kashmir whose people have been suffering worst kind of human rights violations including extra-judicial killings, disappearances and blinding of youth through pellet guns by the occupied forces.

The chairman highlighted that Palestine and Kashmir were the two oldest issues on the agenda of the UN which should be resolved according to the wishes of the people. The parliamentary delegation comprises Senator Mir Mohammad Yousuf Badini, Senator Hidayat Ullah, Senator Ghous Mohammad Khan Niazi and Senator Raheela Magsi.