ISLAMABAD - Iran Tuesday disclosed that it and Pakistan had foiled two suicide attacks on Iran's territory by militants based in Pakistan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the revelation during an official visit to Islamabad, saying the attacks had been planned for this past Monday.

Tehran has long alleged that anti-Iranian extremists use hideouts in the Pakistani border province of Balochistan for plotting terrorism against Iran. Jaish al-Adl, or the Army of Justice, has claimed responsibility for the majority of recent attacks on Iranian soil.

“Last night, unfortunately, we had two suicide [bombing] attempts from Pakistani territory into Iran. Both of them were foiled and we had excellent cooperation from the Pakistani armed forces in order to contain this,” noted Zarif, while speaking to a Pakistan private TV channel. He did not give further details or identify the attacks’ planners.

Last year, militants ambushed and killed 10 Iranian border guards and allegedly took another back to hideouts in the sparsely populated Pakistani province of Baluchistan. The incident fuelled bilateral tensions and Iranian authorities threatened to conduct cross-border raids to rescue the hostage and punish the assailants if Islamabad failed to do so.

Zarif said the Iranian border guard taken hostage has not been freed and that, “We hope that our Pakistani friends help us return him.” Since then, the Iranian minister said, there has been “excellent cooperation” between the two countries and Monday’s incident “was an indication.”

The “presence of Daesh in this region is a threat to all of us. Unfortunately, Daesh was defeated territorially in Iraq but the ideology was not defeated, the network was not defeated,” Zarif said Monday, while delivering a public talk in Islamabad.

The Iranian diplomat again accused the US military of helping the Afghan branch of IS to establish a foothold in the war-ravaged country.

Washington rejects the charges as “mere rumors” and cites its sustained counterterrorism operations in partnership with Afghan forces against IS bases that it says have significantly degraded the group and reduced the number of its fighters.

As regards Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was caught by Pakistan in March 2016 while crossing over from Iran, he said Iran had shared all the intelligence and information with Pakistan.

To a question about Pak-Iran gas pipeline, he said the project was in the interest of both the countries. "We have done our part, and invested some $2 billion in the project,” he added.

Commenting on the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said it was important to develop infrastructure in the region. Such projects would benefit the people of the entire region, he added.

To another question, Javad Zarif said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had made efforts to improve relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Both Pakistan and Iran could play a vital role in the regional stability, prosperity and progress, he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday expressed profound satisfaction over upward trajectory in bilateral relations.

This has transpired in meetings separately between Zarif with Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa and National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (r) Nasser Khan Janjua.

Talking to Iranian FM, Gen Bajwa said that regional peace is dependent upon wider cooperation within West Asia.

The COAS stressed the need for enhancing cooperation to root out transnational security and crimes threat.

According to ISPR statement, matters of mutual interest, regional security and Pak-Iran relations came under discussion.

The Iranian minister appreciated bilateral security engagements during the recent months and measures initiated by both sides to improve Pak-Iran border security.

In a related development, Zarif also called on Janjua. He was accompanied by Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honar Dost.

During the meeting, they expressed profound satisfaction over upward trajectory in bilateral relations.

Both sides stressed on the importance of identifying and removing all the impediments for improving relations. They also exchanged views on regional security situation at length.

Both sides identified common threats and opportunities and reiterated to work in a cooperative framework to seek lasting peace in the region while catering for the sensitivities of each other.

IRAN OFFERS GAS, ELECTRICITY

Iran and Pakistan have deep religious and cultural ties which should be transformed into strong economic cooperation to the benefit of the two nations.

'Pakistan has emotional attachment to every citizen of Iran,' stated Zarif while addressing business community of Karachi on Tuesday.

Iranian FM recalled that Iran was the first country who recognised Pakistan as an independent country. He said there existed huge potential of trade and investment on both the sides, which needed to be efficiently exploited.

For this, increased interaction at the governments and private sectors levels was required, he said.

Besides, he continued, both the governments would have to sit together for removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, simplification of the Customs procedures and establishing banking channel, earliest execution of Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline, signing of Free Trade Agreement.

He said that Iran was ready to help Pakistan meet its electricity demand to a great extent.

'Iran can be a reliable source for Pakistan to get gas and electricity. We are very much capable to produce as much electricity as Pakistan wants,' he stated.

Dr Zarif said that both the countries could partner in many sectors like energy, science and technology , infrastructure, chemicals and human resources development.

He said that today's event, especially B2B meetings, would help promote bilateral trade and find investment avenues on both the sides.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said that he had visited Karachi many times and it was honour for him to be here among the business community and political figures. A presentation was given by a member of Iranian business delegation to highlight the economic potential of Iran and the opportunities for joint ventures with other countries.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah invited Iranian businessmen to invest in Sindh; especially in Thar coal projects, wind and solar energy sector and infrastructure.

FPCCI Senior Vice President Syed Mazhar Ali Nasir maintained that both the countries were not fully aware of each other's economic potential, which called for enhanced exchange of information and trade delegations.

He said that there was need for holding single country exhibitions on each other's land.

He informed that Pakistan was going to hold its single country exhibition in Tehran in May or June this year.

He regretted that Pakistan and Iran had strong air, land and sea linkages but none was being efficiently utilised to promote bilateral trade and investment.