Noor-ul-Haq Qadri expressed these views during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought Hamid Shahriari on Tuesday in Islamabad.
The Minister of Religious Affairs of Pakistan expressed his satisfaction with the presence of the delegation of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought in Islamabad and praised the efforts of this Islamic organization to increase the unity of the scholars of the Islamic world and strengthen solidarity between Muslim nations, including Iran and Pakistan.
Noor-ul-Haq Qadri added the people and government of Pakistan are grateful for the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Muslim nations and the people of Kashmir.
Emphasizing the decisive role of the clergy and religious elites of Iran and Pakistan in resolving misunderstandings and joint steps towards unity and solidarity against common enemies, he said Pakistan will foil any attempt by internal and external destructive elements to harm these relations.
Pakistani Minister recalled his meeting with the late Ayatollah Taskhiri ten years ago during his visit to Lahore, as well as three trips to Tehran and other holy sites.
He added Pakistan firmly believes in respect for divine religions and "we are ready to work closely with the Islamic world", including the Islamic Republic of Iran, to advance the mission of rapprochement and joint cooperation to exploit religious commonalities and avoid differences.
Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said Pakistan is committed to deepening close relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, exchange of religious delegations and religious elites, the interaction between Islamic and research institutions, including the promotion of pilgrimage tourism from Pakistan to Iranian religious sites.
Referring to Iranian civilization and the history of the Persian language in the subcontinent, he stressed the need for cooperation between the two countries to promote the Persian language in Pakistan, adding that the government, especially the Ministry of Religious Affairs is ready for any cooperation with the Iranian embassy and cultural missions in Pakistan.
Pakistan's Minister of Religious Affairs also called for facilitating trade and commerce between the two countries' borders, citing it as an effective factor in expanding mutual cooperation.
He also informed about his ministry’s consultations with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to establish direct flights to the holy city of Mashad from the cities of Karachi and Lahore.
Secretary-General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought welcomed the unifying efforts of the Minister of Religious Affairs of Pakistan and invited Noor-ul-Haq Qadri to attend the upcoming International Conference on Islamic Unity in Tehran.
Hamid Shahriari emphasized the need to encourage Muslim nations to exploit the commonalities among themselves which is the main solution to prevent division and chaos among the Islamic Ummah.
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan Mohammad Ali Hosseini and Member of Iranian Assembly of Experts Molavi Nazir Ahmad Salami discussed Iran's efforts to expand religious and health tourism.
The members of the Iranian delegation also met with Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi leader of Islami Tehreek Pakistan, as well as officials of the Pakistan Shiite Ulema Council.
The Secretary-General arrived in Islamabad last Sunday to participate in various programs, including a meeting with the Chairman of the Islamic Ideology Council of Pakistan and some religious officials and senior scholars of Pakistan's Islamic sects.
Hamid Shahriari will also travel to Lahore and Karachi to meet and consult with Pakistani religious leaders.
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