During a meeting with the head of the parliamentary friendship group of the two countries in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Ahmed Amirabadi Farahani in Islamabad, Asad Qaiser supported the proposal to hold a joint meeting of Iran-China-Pakistan friendship groups.
Amirabadi Farahani is visiting Pakistan along with a five member delegation on the invitation of the speaker of National Assembly.
Asad Qaiser directed the Secretariat of the National Assembly of Pakistan to take practical steps to coordinate tripartite parliamentary diplomacy and advance Iran's initiative to form this partnership between the three major countries in the region.
The speaker said that he strongly believes that frequent interactions between political hierarchy and people brings nations closer. He said that current upward trajectory of bilateral relations was manifestation of that, adding that Pakistan and Iran were tied in eternal bonds of religion, culture, and history.
The speaker also said that the present government was focusing on geoeconomics and connectivity for regional development and prosperity, noting that Pakistan has always desired to enhance trade and people-to-people contact.
He informed that opening of two new border points had facilitated trade and movement of people between Pakistani and Iran. He also appreciated the idea of establishment of border markets for enhancing bilateral trade and livelihood of people in border areas.
The speaker said that Pakistan and Iran need to work closer in view of changing the geopolitical situation in the region. He said that Pakistan had always desired to have cordial relations with its neighbors and resolution of contentious issues through peaceful means.
Referring to the change of government in Afghanistan, he said that Pakistan had always supported Afghan-led and owned peace process. He said that closer liaison between both the governments was imperative to ensure that either of the soils are not used against each other.
The Speaker also called for joint efforts to curb the problem of Islamophobia in the West and resolution of disputes of Kashmir and Palestine in accordance with the international commitments. He thanked for Iranian support for Kashmir issue at international and regional forums.
Head of the Iranian delegation Ahmed Amirabadi Farahani congratulated the people and government of Pakistan on the auspicious days of Rabi-al-Awal and the Week of Unity.
He also conveyed warm greetings of the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly to his Pakistani counterpart, adding parliamentary friendship groups of the two countries have a special place and are active groups in which most representatives in both assemblies are members.
Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani proposed a joint meeting of the two countries' friendship groups with China and announced the Iranian parliament's readiness to host the first meeting of the Iran-Pakistan-China friendship groups.
He stressed strengthening parliamentary diplomacy between Iran, China, and Pakistan paves the way for investment and economic growth of the three countries and its collective participation for the welfare of the region.
The head of the Iran-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group stressed the need for the Pakistani parliament to support the implementation of agreements between the two neighbors, especially in the areas of border, law affairs, and called on the Pakistani parliament speaker to support resolving these issues.
Referring to the economic potential, he agreed that both of the countries need to work more closely to reap the benefits of economic activity.
He said that the establishment of border markets would play an important role in tapping the trade potential.
He said that he had had productive meetings with government functionaries during his visit to Islamabad and would communicate his recommendations to his government.
Referring to the developments in Afghanistan and the consultations that Iranian delegation had with Pakistani political and parliamentary officials during his visit, he said that Tehran and Islamabad have close views on the Afghan peace.
Amirabadi Farahani added that despite the fact that Iran and Pakistan have been hosting Afghan refugees for decades, the new government of Afghanistan should prevent a new wave of refugees from flowing to the Iranian and Pakistani borders and should not allow terrorists use Afghanistan's territory against their neighbors.
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