ISLAMABAD: The defense ministers of Pakistan and Iran this week discussed regional security and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Pakistan’s defense ministry said amid Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian’s two-day state visit to the South Asian country.
Pakistan and Iran have remained at odds over instability along their shared, porous border that led to a missile exchange between them last year. Both countries, however, were quick to move to ease tensions.
Iran was among several countries that attempted to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan during their May armed conflict, while Islamabad categorically condemned Israel for carrying out strikes against Iran that triggered a 12-day conflict between the two countries in June.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif met Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, his Iranian counterpart, on Saturday. Nasirzadeh is part of a high-level delegation led by Pezeshkian, who arrived on a two-day state visit to Pakistan on Saturday to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion and strengthen relations between the two countries.
“During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, including regional security, counter-terrorism efforts, and avenues to enhance defense cooperation between the two neighboring countries,” the Pakistani defense ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
