"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that security and tranquility in Pakistan is interrelated with its own security and tranquility," President Rouhani said during the meeting today.
The Iranian president reiterated the importance of security at Iran-Pakistan common border, and called for the adoption of the necessary measures to remove the existing concerns in this regard.
President Rouhani pointed to the current level of Iran-Pakistan economic relations, and said, "There are many capacities for the expansion of economic ties between Iran and Pakistan."
The Pakistani prime minister's special envoy, for his part, pointed to the status quo in the Tehran-Pakistan ties, and said, "There exists ample potential for enhancing the bilateral ties …"
Earlier this month, Rouhani, in a meeting with Chairman of the Pakistani Senate Syed Nayyer Bokhari in Tehran, called on Pakistan to improve its domestic security in a bid to stop terrorists' activities along its borders with Iran.
Five Iranian border guards were abducted in Jakigour region of Iran’s Sistan and Balouchestan Province on February 6 and taken to Pakistan by Jeish Al-Adl terrorist group. The group released four of them earlier in April, but said it had killed the fifth soldier, Jamshid Danayeefar.
Sartaj Aziz arrived in Tehran earlier today to convey a special message from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is also scheduled to visit Iran on May 11.
Sartaj Aziz, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary, is also slated to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif before returning home on Tuesday.
No official announcement has been made about the visit but diplomatic observers are attaching significance to the trip in the backdrop of the regional situation.
Highly-placed diplomatic sources told Pakistan's The News on Sunday that Pakistan is keen to maintain and protect its historic ties with Iran.
The government is interested in making the two-day visit of Sharif to Iran productive and result-oriented.
“Pakistan doesn’t want any misgiving to find its way in relations with Iran. Sartaj Aziz’s visit will help in dispelling misperceptions, if any, between the two brotherly countries,” the sources said.
Pakistan would like to reassure the Iranian leadership of its desire for having cooperative relations with Tehran.
The much-discussed gas pipeline project between Iran and Pakistan, import of electricity from Iran and other subjects related to economic cooperation would figure prominently in the talks between the two countries during Sharif's visit, the sources said.
The source added that Sharif will also invite the Iranian president to visit Pakistan.
