ANTALYA, Turkey: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif met on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on Saturday, and reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations and the evolving regional situation.
The two foreign ministers noted the positive trajectory in Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations in various areas in the last few years.
Good to meet FM @JZarif today and we shared positivity over trajectory of shared cooperation, including on MOU on border sustenance markets & opening of additional border crossing points.
Shared Pakistan’s policy on 🇦🇫 bilateral context & the Afghan peace process. pic.twitter.com/Pr8wjPN7uA— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) June 19, 2021
Qureshi congratulated Javad Zarif on the successful conclusion of the Presidential Elections in Iran and extended best wishes to the government and people of Iran.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi recalled the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on border sustenance markets and the opening of additional border crossing points, which would further strengthen people-to-people linkages and improve livelihood in the border regions.
Both foreign ministers also exchanged views on the latest status of the Afghan peace process.
Highlighting Pakistan’s abiding interest in a peaceful, secure, and stable Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi underscored Pakistan’s consistent efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process.
The foreign minister expressed the hope that the Afghan parties would realize the opportunity and workout an inclusive politically negotiated settlement.
This was the third meeting between the two foreign ministers in the past few months. Earlier Qureshi had paid an official visit to Iran in April 2021.
