Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif have vowed to boost cooperation on regional security and trade
during talks in Islamabad, the first visit by an Iranian head of state
in 14 years. Rouhani said he and Sharif had agreed on Friday to fight
“extremist and terrorist groups” in their countries’ shared border, as
the two leaders announced the opening of two new crossing points to
encourage trade long hampered by sanctions.
“We place emphasis on the need for cooperation between our two
countries, on regional security,” Rouhani said, adding that issues
related to energy, gas the export of electricity were also discussed.
Meanwhile, Sharif said he hopes the opening of two new crossings would
contribute to “economic integration” in the region, while promoting
tourism and “people to people contacts”.
Pakistan, a majority Sunni country, has traditionally close ties with
Saudi Arabia, which is hostile to Iran, a Shia power. The kingdom
accuses Tehran of supporting Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen against the
internationally recognised president, Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Saudi
Arabia has been leading a coalition of mostly Gulf Arab states in an
air-campaign against the Houthis in the conflict, widely seen as a proxy
Saudi-Iran war. Last year, Pakistan refused a Saudi request to send
troops into Yemen after a vote in Parliament delivered an overwhelming
“no.”
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mosharraf Zaidi, a former advisor to
Pakistan’s foreign ministry, said Rouhani’s visit is “proof positive”
that Pakistan cannot maintain a relationship with Saudi and other Gulf
countries “at the expense of a useful and functional” ties with
Iran. Rouhani’s visit is also expected to discuss a controversial gas
pipeline from Iran, through Pakistan to India.
