Islamabad, IRNA — The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan, during a meeting with the Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) said forging unity in Islamic world should be “our top priority”, stressing the need for a joint strategy to counter Islamophobia.
Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini in a meeting with Qibla Ayaz in Islamabad on Friday praised the serious efforts of the government and people of Pakistan in combating Islamophobia.
He stressed the need to strengthen the unity of Islamic world and added fighting Islamophobia conspiracy requires the coordinated effort of Muslim countries and for this close cooperation between Iran and Pakistan as two important powers of the Islamic world is inevitable.
Referring to the issue of Palestine and the legitimate right of the Palestinians to have a free country, Iranian ambassador said any connection with the occupying Zionist regime and any compromise plan with them is doomed to failure.
Discussing regional developments, he described the situation in Afghanistan as worrying and blamed the United States and its Western allies for putting Afghanistan into this chaos through irresponsible withdrawal.
He said Americans despite their presence in Afghanistan for twenty years achieved nothing but destruction, instability and increasing insecurity. Drug production and trafficking increased, and the ominous phenomenon of terrorism and extremism intensified.
The Iranian ambassador to Pakistan added now all the Americans have left Afghanistan putting the country on the verge of a civil war. He said Iran, Pakistan and other countries have to play a role for peace in Afghanistan and should not repeat the mistakes of past.
Referring to the cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in various fields, including energy and transfer of gas through pipeline, Chabahar and Gwadar, Hosseini said that the two ports complement each other and emphasized the expansion of their cooperation.
Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) says a visit to Iran is on his agenda but was delayed due to the corona outbreak. He expressed hope that he would travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran at the earliest as the situation improves.
Expressing satisfaction and support for the remarks of the Iranian ambassador, Qibla Ayaz added certainly, the people of Pakistan will never forget the issue of Palestine, and we support Iran’s efforts in this regard.
Ambassador Hosseini said a number of countries are trying to forget the issue of Palestine adding the issue of Palestine is a vital issue for Muslims and the Islamic world.
He added unfortunately, some Islamic states think that the Zionist regime can bring them security, which is actually the root cause of insecurity and instability in the region, so Islamic countries and nations must have a united and close position against this usurper regime.
Regarding the developments in Afghanistan and the common concerns of Iran and Pakistan, Qibla Ayaz said Pakistani government has always stressed for peaceful solution of Afghan crisis and we will never support a conflict in the country.
CII Chairman stressed that the countries of the region should take a common position and should not take separate positions.
He added Iran built a gas pipeline to our borders, but we could not use it, and in this regards, the electricity that Iran exports is another sign of friendship and brotherhood between the two neighbors.
Welcoming the co-operation between the two countries’ ports, the Pakistani official said we support Iran’s position on cooperation between the ports of Chabahar and Gwadar.
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency – IRNA
