Leader Warns of Attempts to Damage Iran-Pakistan Ties

Ayatollah Khamenei, in a Monday meeting with Pakistan’s visiting prime minister in Tehran, underlined that certain foreign elements, including the US administration, seek to “create a rift” between the two friendly and cordial nations of Iran and Pakistan.

Among the plots hatched by the ill-wishers are “fomenting insecurity on the long shared border” between Iran and neighboring Pakistan, the Leader explained.

Ayatollah Khamenei further noted that “the great opportunity for the expansion of relations between the two countries should not be missed.”

Imam Khamenei underscored that enhancement of Tehran-Islamabad ties should not be subject to permission from others, and added, “Among the governments that are trying to create rift between Iran and Pakistan is the US, whose wickedness is publicly clear.”

The Supreme Leader then made a reference to the deliberate attempts to incite insecurity along Iran-Pakistan common borders, and said, “We cannot believe that such events are natural and unintentional.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran has some information that activities are underway in Pakistan’s Balouchestan region to destabilize the shared borders.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for his part, deplored the recent terrorist incidents along his country’s borders with Iran, and admitted that certain hands are behind instigating strife between the two neighbors.

Sharif also assured Ayatollah Khamenei that his administration will spare no efforts to confront those behind border insecurity, and pledged that Islamabad will support Tehran’s measures to establish border security.

The Pakistani premier arrived in Iran on Sunday for a two-day official tour.

This is the first time Sharif visits Iran as prime minister.

by Tasnim News Agency