Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, has held talks in Islamabad with his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani.
The meeting came days after the two countries exchanged airstrikes inside each other’s territory, both claiming their targets were terrorists and militants operating inside their neighbour.
In a press briefing, Amir-Abdollahian and Jilani disclosed that they would work through existing channels in their leadership, diplomatic and military levels to cooperate with each other.
Jilani said the two countries were able to bring the “situation back to normal in the shortest possible time” after the recent exchange of airstrikes because both sides had agreed to resume dialogue to resolve all issues.
Jilani said that we discussed important bilateral issues in detail and emphasized that the relations between the two sides are valuable for the two nations and are an important source for peace and stability in the region.
Emphasizing that Iran and Pakistan are determined to develop political and security relations, Jilani said, “Terrorism poses a common challenge to our countries,” Jilani said and stressed that “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity remains the immutable and foundational principle of this cooperation” between the neighbours.
Iran and Pakistan “strongly respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other,” Amir-Abdollahian said.
“We will tell all terrorists that we will not … provide them with any opportunity to endanger our common security,” he added.
Amir-Abdollahian said that Pakistan and Iran will also set up free trade economic zones near the border regions to enhance their bilateral trade.
Amir-Abdollahian added that Pakistan has officially invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to pay a visit to the country, adding that the two sides have agreed to work together on a plan that ensures Raisi’s visit to “the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan” can take place in the near future.
The Iranian foreign minister also met with Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister Anwaarul-Haq-Kakar.
Separately, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz and Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, had a phone conversation.
According to a German government Spokesperson, they agreed on the importance of allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
“The Chancellor and the President agreed that in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, there is an urgent need to significantly improve access for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the provision of supplies to the Palestinians,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Germany is among the countries to have halted funding UNRWA, the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees, after Israel accused some of its staff of being involved in the 7 October Hamas attack inside Israel.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi updated German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Egypt’s intensified efforts to effect a ceasefire in Gaza as well as the ongoing initiatives regarding detainee exchange.
“El-Sisi emphasized that these efforts aim to protect the civilians in Gaza who are enduring tragic humanitarian conditions,” Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said.
El-Sisi underscored the need for the international community to exert pressure to implement relevant United Nations resolutions.
The Spokesman disclosed that the phone call also addressed efforts to prevent further expansion of the conflict, which has been looming over the region.
“This could have serious consequences for the Middle East as well as international peace and security,” the spokesman added.
El-Sisi and Scholz stressed the two-state solution as the foundation for restoring regional peace, security, and stability.
The German Chancellor also commended Egypt’s constructive role in the region as he discussed regional developments during his conversation with El-Sisi.
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