Qasim Khan Suri during an exclusive interview with IRNA in Islamabad just before paying an official visit to Iran at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart talked about the agenda of his visit.
The 52-year-old Pakistani politician, who hails from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, a province bordering Sistan and Baluchestan in Iran said that the exchange of political, economic, parliamentary, security and cultural delegations has always been on the agenda of the two neighboring countries and shows strong trust in each other in all matters.
Appreciating the Islamic Republic of Iran's view on developing relations with Pakistan and emphasizing the importance of the two countries' common vision in discussing regional and international issues, he added Tehran and Islamabad are time tested friends and support each other at all regional and global forums.
Qasim Khan Suri considered his current trip to Iran very important, and said, "We are eager to know about the governance methods and parliamentary activities in our friend and brotherly country of Iran."
He added strengthening bilateral parliamentary and economic cooperation, development of cross-border trade, security of common borders and developments in Afghanistan are among the most important goals of his visit to Iran.
Recalling the recent visits of Pakistani officials to Iran and the visit of the Iranian Interior Minister to Islamabad last week, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly said the two neighbors are aware of the importance of bilateral relations and the need to develop cooperation in all fields.
He warned that some parties are trying to target the long-standing friendly relations between Iran and Pakistan.
Appreciating the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in supporting Muslim nations, including the people of Kashmir, he added that fortunately Tehran and Islamabad have common positions on issues related to Muslim countries.
He added constructive consultations should be held to help the oppressed people of Afghanistan and to promote peace in the common neighborhood.
Referring to the important position of Iran in the region and the need for cooperation between the countries of the region, Qasim Khan Suri welcomed the recent developments in Tehran-Riyadh ties, adding Prime Minister of Pakistan did not spare any effort to help defuse tensions in the region, especially between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
He blamed the discriminatory attitude of Western powers towards Iran, especially against the development of peaceful nuclear program, and said Iran is an independent and a free state and has the legitimate right to develop peaceful nuclear program.
Condemning the US unilateral sanctions against Iran, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan said Islamabad supports Tehran's position and "we believe that Iran should enjoy economic fruits and relations with other countries".
Emphasizing the need to develop relations between the parliamentary, cultural and commercial institutions of Iran and Pakistan, he said "we want to expand close cooperation with Tehran in the field of security".
Pointing to the importance of security of joint borders of Iran and Pakistan, Qasim Khan Suri said establishment of border markets is a worthy action of the two neighboring countries to help develop trade and improve the livelihood of border residents.
He spoke about his numerous and informal trips to Iran and expressed his satisfaction with the recent official visit to Iran, saying he will also visit the cities of Mashad, Qom and Isfahan during his trip to Iran.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan said that his trip to Iran will not be complete without visiting the holy city of Mashad and visiting the court of Imam Reza (AS) and Fatima Masumeh in Qom.
Qasim Khan Suri heading a parliamentary delegation left for Iran early Saturday to meet with country’s senior officials at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.
The Deputy Speaker of the Pakistani Parliament is scheduled to meet his Iranian counterpart and some other senior officials of the Islamic Republic to discuss bilateral cooperation, strengthening economic, parliamentary and border relations.
This is Qasim Khan Suri's first official visit to Iran as Deputy Speaker of the Pakistani Parliament. His visit to Tehran comes just days after Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi's important visit to Islamabad.
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