Minister calls for broadening of Iran-Pakistan economic ties

Iranian Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia and his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar in a meeting in Tehran on Monday called for broader relations between Tehran and Islamabad. "Iran and Pakistan should overcome the existing obstacles blocking the in the way of Tehran-Islamabad economic relations," Tayyebnia said during the meeting. The Iranian economy minister underlined the determination of Iranian and Pakistani officials to improve economic ties between the two neighboring countries and outlined the outstanding problems facing the promotion of such ties. The Pakistani minister, for his part, reiterated his country's determination to increase the level of economic cooperation with Iran, and expressed the hope that the obstacles blocking Tehran-Islamabad ties would be removed as soon as possible. The Pakistani finance minister and his accompanying delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday. On Sunday, Iran and Pakistan signed 9 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in a bid to further expand mutual cooperation in various grounds of security. The MoUs were signed between Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri and Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif in Tehran on Sunday. According to the MoUs, the two sides agreed to set up a joint committee on border issues. They also agreed to boost cooperation in their fight against terrorism, drugs trafficking and money-laundering. Also during the meeting, Jahangiri urged Islamabad to fulfill its commitments regarding the multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline, projected to carry natural gas from Iran to Pakistan. Sharif, for his part, highlighted the significance of the project, and said his country welcomes multilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sectors. The Pakistani prime minister also held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to discuss ways to expand ties between the two countries. Nawaz Sharif arrived in Tehran on Sunday for an official two-day visit to the country. Sharif’s visit to Tehran is his first since the formation of new governments in the two neighboring countries. Iran and Pakistan have exchanged delegations on a regular basis and the two neighboring countries are keen to expedite expansion of their bilateral ties. The long-waited Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, whose future has now grown rather uncertain, as well as border security are said to stand atop the discussions of the Pakistani premier with Iranian officials.