Naveed Miraj & Shahid Qureshi
ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Iran in Islamabad on Monday commemorated the 45th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the National Day of Iran, showcasing the enduring friendship and cooperation between Iran and Pakistan.
In a ceremony attended by esteemed guests, including Pakistan’s caretaker foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani as the chief guest, Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam extended warm wishes for a bright and prosperous future, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the two neighboring nations.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam expressed gratitude for the longstanding ties between Iran and Pakistan, rooted in historical, cultural, and religious affinities. He highlighted the mutual recognition of independence and subsequent support, underscoring the absence of territorial disputes as a testament to the strength of their relations.
Cooperation Between Iran and Pakistan
The Ambassador praised the close cooperation between Iran and Pakistan on regional, international, and Islamic world issues, emphasizing shared viewpoints and mutual support in various forums.
“Iran was the first country to recognize the independent Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan was the first country to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran after the victory of the revolution,” he said.
He added that the ties between the two countries have been established in such a way that there has been no territorial and border dispute between the two, and now we have strong relations in various fields.
“Our two countries have close viewpoints on many regional, international, and Islamic world issues, and closely cooperate and mutually support each other in the regional and international organizations and forums,” said the ambassador.
He lauded the significant progress in economic and trade relations, attributing the momentum to the leadership’s commitment to enhancing ties, including initiatives to facilitate border trade and collaboration on port development projects.
Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam went on to say the opening of common border crossings points and common border markets, one of which was inaugurated last year with the presence of the heads of the two governments, was a manifestation of the economic relations’ enhancement and constitutes a fundamental development to connect the important ports of Karachi and Gwadar with the strategic port of Chabahar in Iran.
“Last year, the trade value between the two countries exceeded 2.5 billion dollars last year, and the two countries aim to reach the figure of 5 billion dollars,” he noted.
Reflecting on the significance of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian Ambassador hailed its transformative impact on Iran’s political landscape and global discourse. He emphasized Iran’s achievements in scientific, technological, and industrial domains, despite challenges imposed by external forces.
He said at the regional and international levels, the Islamic Republic of Iran has pursued the independent foreign policy and the support of the Muslim world, the effects of which can be seen in the all-round support for the Palestinian cause and the legitimate struggles of the Palestinians against the Zionists Regime to prevent the materialization of its dream for occupying a larger part of the Islamic world.
Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam extended congratulations to the people and government of Pakistan on the successful completion of nationwide elections, expressing hope for continued progress and prosperity under the new government.
The ceremony, attended by dignitaries including Federal Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, and Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, served as a testament to the enduring friendship between Iran and Pakistan.
