Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor apprised Iranian media about Pakistan’s efforts, achievements and sacrifices in war against terror and towards regional peace.
Addressing a joint press conference with the Gen Staff Officer Iranian Army here on Tuesday, he said Pakistan wishes peace in Afghanistan and supports all initiatives towards this end.
“We have done everything on Pakistan side of the border. There are no terrorist sanctuaries inside Pakistan,” he added.
He said ISIS is growing in Afghanistan as a threat to region. He said a regional approach is required to defeat the threat. He said Pakistan has taken effective measures on Pak-Afghan border.
The ISPR chief reiterated that Pakistan's soil would not be used against any country including Iran.
He thanked the Iranian supreme leader for his supportive statement on Kashmir, adding Kashmir is a long pending dispute between India and Pakistan. He said regional peace and security remains at stake till its settlement according to the aspirations of Kashmiri people in line with the UN resolutions.
“We greatly value our relations with Iran which have a positive history bonded by history, culture and religion.”
He also thanked Iranian military and government for hospitality extended by Iran during the visit on behalf of the COAS.
Pakistan Armed Forces are capable to thwart any challenge with support of Pakistani nation. In Pakistan we say that prerogative of declaring jihad rests only with state and armed forces are state instrument for its application against anti state elements,” he added.
Presser at Tehran. Gist in attached text message. “Pak Armed Forces are capable to thwart any threat with sp of nation. Prerogative of declaring Jehad rests only with state and Armed Forces are instrument for its application.” pic.twitter.com/GR7vUlBhCi
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 7, 2017
Earlier, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa during his second day in Iran called on the Islamic republic to work on border management mechanism between the two countries.
General Bajwa met Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami and visited Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) HQ where he interacted with their senior leadership, said Inter-Services Public Relations.
"Iranian defence minister thanked COAS for his visit, acknowledged achievements of Pakistan Army in war against terrorism and expressed his country’s willingness to enhance defence cooperation," added the statement.
COAS in Iran. Met Iranian Def Minister, visited IRGC HQ. Both sides agreed that their soils will not be allowed to be used by third party against each other. pic.twitter.com/hpQPrhdDam
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 7, 2017
General Hatami said his country's policy is based on developing relations with neighbours, adding that Pakistan has a special place in Iranian foreign policy.
"COAS highlighted that with improved special measures by Pakistan on Pak-Afghan border, terrorists are likely to exploit Pak-Iran friendly border and both countries need to put in efforts to deny it’s use by them," said ISPR.
"Both sides agreed to ensure that their soil is not used by any third party against any of the two countries. In this regard steps including establishment of hotline communication between the field commanders along Pak-Iran border, fencing by Iran on their side of the border, coordinated border patrolling, intelligence sharing and more frequent interactions were agreed to."
