IRNA � Consul-General of Iran in Pakistan�s southwestern city of Quetta says that Iranian soil has never been used against Pakistan in the past and nor will it be used in the future.


Mohammad Rafiee, addressing a news conference in Quetta at the Iranian Consulate, said that the government of Iran is taking concrete measures to ensure border security, boost trade and strengthen diplomatic relations with Pakistan.

Referring to the recent visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Pakistan, Rafiee said that it is a proof that Iran is committed to good neighborly relations with Pakistan and seeks peace and security on its border.

He hoped that the trade between Iran and Pakistan would hit the target of five billion US dollars in the next five years which will be beneficial to both the countries.

The Iranian diplomat said that government leaders and officials of Iran and Pakistan are exchanging frequent visits to cement bilateral ties.

He added that President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif met five times in one year and discussed ways to further strengthen trade and diplomatic relations.

He said that the border between Iran and Pakistan is spread over to 950 kilometers including their respective territorial waters on Mekran Coast where concrete steps are being taken to ensure peace and security on border regions.

The Iranian consul-general said that Iran and Pakistan are holding joint meetings in which many bilateral issues were sorted out with the consensus that peace will be retained at the border on priority basis.

He said the Iranian Foreign Minister during his recent Pakistan visit also had a meeting with the Pakistan army chief and discussed recent border attack in Mirjaveh region in which terrorists martyred some Iranian border guards.

He said that Zarif had meetings with the Prime Minister, Interior Minister, National Security Adviser, Speaker of the National Assembly and Army Chief of Pakistan and sought better cooperation from Pakistan to bring the culprits of the incident to justice.

He said both sides during the meetings were of the view that Mirjaveh border incident was meant to spoil good neighborly and brotherly relations between Iran and Pakistan.

He hoped that the government of Pakistan would take stern action against the terrorists involved in attacking and killing Iranian border guards.

He used the term of sister ports for Gwadar and Chabahar which will facilitate trade among the nations. He asked the government of Pakistan to develop its railways on modern line and international standards so that trade facilities are further promoted.