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Iran, Pakistan Call for Closer Cooperation in All Fields

Iran, Pakistan Call for Closer Cooperation in All Fields
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif meeting his Pakistani counterpart in Islamabad on March 12, 2018 / Photo by Iran's Foreign Ministry

Speaking in the meeting in Islamabad on Monday, Zarif called for closer cooperation in political, economic, cultural and security fields.

“It’s essential for Iran and Pakistan, as two friends and neighbours, to engage in close cooperation to ensure security of their common borders and prevent the penetration of terrorists,” he said.

Asif, for his part, stressed the need for expansion of ties between the two countries, saying the Pakistani government is ready for developing political and economic cooperation with Iran.

“We want borders of both countries to be secure,” he said.

Zarif and Asif discussed the peace process in Afghanistan, expansion of banking and energy cooperation, the export of electricity from Iran to Pakistan, cooperation between Chabahar and Gwadar ports, and expansion of border market.

The two officials further talked about issues of the Muslim world, facilitation of visiting Mashhad for Pakistani Shiites, multilateral economic cooperation to help promote peace and stability in the region, and the fight against terrorism and extremist groups and drug traffickers.

The two top diplomats also commemorated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the two countries.

Dozens Killed after Plane with 71 People on Board Crashes in Nepal (+Video)

The US-Bangla Airlines plane carrying 67 passengers and four crew members slipped off the runway as it was landing and fell down a slope, sliding for about 300 metres before it stopped at a football pitch, leaving a trail of twisted metal, paper and luggage along the burnt grass.

Nepali police said at least 38 were killed and 23 injured, with another 10 people still unaccounted for.

Smoke could be seen billowing from the site where the plane – which originated from Dhaka in Bangladesh – is believed to have veered off the runway while landing.

All flights in and out of Tribhuvan International Airport have been cancelled.

Firefighters battled to extinguish the burning wreckage and rescue passengers as plumes of black smoke rose above the site, to the east of the airport’s runway.

At least 24 badly burned bodies, some covered with cloth and others in partially sealed body bags, could be seen laid our beside the charred frame of the plane.

Nepal has suffered a number of air disasters in recent years, dealing a blow to its tourist industry.

Its poor air safety record has been blamed largely on inadequate maintenance, inexperienced pilots and substandard management.

In early 2016, a twin otter turboprop aircraft hit a mountainside in Nepal, killing all 23 people on board.

Two days later, two pilots were killed when a small passenger plane crash-landed in the country’s hilly midwest.

Turkish Plane Already on Fire before Crashing in Iran (+Video)

The daughter of a Turkish business tycoon and her seven friends died in the Sunday plane crash in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province as they were headed back to Istanbul from her hen party in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

The plane crashed in Durak Anari village, 110 kilometres (69 miles) from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province capital city Shahr-e Kord believed to an alleged technical failure killing bride-to-be Mina Basaran and ten other passengers including her friends and three flights’ crew member.

Kiani, the Deputy Head of Crisis Management in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, and an eyewitness say the plane was already on fire before crash[ing]” into the mountainside.

Several bodies and the plane’s black box have already been retrieved by officials.

Aseman Airlines, Pilot to Blame for February Plane Crash in Iran

The report suggests that the team tasked with probing into the incident is currently unable to present a definitive conclusion from the investigation into the crash of the ATR-72 plane operated by the Iran Aseman Airlines.

According to the report, the experts looking into the incident need more work and a more precise probe in order to arrive at a conclusion regarding what caused the crash.

Still, the following findings have been mentioned in the analysis section of the report:

– The pilot descended to 17,000 feet as demanded by the control tower, but further descent to 15,000 and 14,000 feet was against the regulations.

– The first pilot had medical restrictions for flight, which were not taken into account by the Aseman Airline.

– The main pilot was not authorized to fly simultaneously with a co-pilot.

– The pilot should have flown at an altitude of 17,000 feet until reaching the airport

– The system giving alarms about frost on the wings and fuselage was not in ideal condition and should have been checked in the latest maintenance work. This negligence by the maintenance company cannot be condoned. If the anti-frost alarm system on the wings and fuselage had been active, it would have been possible to control the aircraft.

– The necessary technical work had not been carried out on the plane due to sanctions.

Still, the report is not final and the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization has not announced its final conclusion, yet.

Iran FM in Islamabad Calls for Free Trade with Pakistan

The Iranian top diplomat arrived in Islamabad on Sunday at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation.

Zarif further said the Islamic Republic also seeks to promote its banking relations with Pakistan and boost preferred tariffs levied on traded goods.

After attending political and economic gatherings in the Pakistani capital during the three-day visit, which is especially geared towards enhancing bilateral trade, Zarif is expected to travel to the business and industrial hub of Karachi, where further economic talks have been scheduled.

Iran and Pakistan seek to increase bilateral trade volume to almost five billion dollars per year.

Zarif pointed to the notable increase over the recent years in the volume of bilateral trade, adding, however, that “the area still contains more capacities.”

“Tehran and Islamabad enjoy special relations,” he also said, describing the quality of bilateral political relations as “very good.”

The trip is Zarif’s seventh to Pakistan in his capacity as foreign minister.

The last visit in May featured talks aimed at boosting border security following an attack on the common border that killed 10 Iranian guards.

Iran Recovers Bodies of Those Killed in Turkish Plane Crash

According to head of the Red Crescent Society of Iran’s western province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, where the fatal crash occurred, ten charred bodies have been retrieved from wreckage of the Turkish private jet in a steep mountainous area since Sunday night.

The aerial operation to transfer the bodies to the ground station will begin in a few hours, officials said Monday morning.

Iranian mount rescue and search teams have set up camps at the site of the crash, while aerial crash investigation groups have been also deployed to the zone.

Meanwhile, two planes from Turkey, carrying families of the young victims and Turkish investigation teams, arrived in Iran on Monday.

The doomed jet, flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Istanbul, was carrying 28-year-old heiress Mina Basaran and seven of her friends from her hen party, as well as two pilots and a crew.

The Bombardier Challenger 604 plane reportedly belonged to a firm owned by Turkish business tycoon Huseyin Basaran – the bride-to-be’s father.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 18

Several papers today covered the ongoing reactions to an attack on the Iranian embassy in London, and the way the UK police dealt with the assailants.

Another top story was the resignation of Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, 91, as the leader of Tehran’s Friday Prayers after 25 years, which was accepted by the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The upcoming impeachment of ministers of Labour, Roads, and Agriculture, and President Hassan Rouhani’s strong support for them also remained a top story today.

The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:

 

19 Dey:

  • Health Minister: Number of Truck Crashes in Iran 100 Times More than World

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Abrar:

  • Larijani: Iran’s Problems Cannot Be Resolved with Brouhaha
  • Iran Leader Agrees to Resignation of Ayatollah Jannati as Imam of Tehran Friday Prayers
  • IRGC Chief-Commander: IRGC’s Internal Situation among Leader’s Concerns
  • Khatam al-Anbiya Air Base Commander: Zionist Regime Cannot Afford to Confront Iran

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Afkar:

  • Amir-Abdollahian: Red Cross Must Do Its Professional Duty on Yemen

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Aftab-e Yazd:

  • Notable Increase of Imports from US
  • Reformist Figure: We Must Learn Fight against Corruption from Georgia
  • Costly Parliament: Iran’s Parliament among Most Expensive Ones in World

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Arman-e Emrooz:

  • New Threats against Iran Ambassador to London
  • UK Government Must Give Guarantee: Envoy
  • Turkish Plane Crashes Near Iran’s Shahr-e Kord

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Ebtekar:

  • Erdogan’s Dual Game against US, Russia

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Etemad:

  • Against People of China
  • China’s Ruling Party Agrees to Lifetime Presidency

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Ettela’at:

  • Iran First VP: All Social Strata Must Taste Development, Prosperity
  • Terrorists in Biggest Part of Eastern Ghouta Surrounded by Syrian Army

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Hemayat:

  • Prosecutor General: Shirazi Cult Definitely Affiliated to Britain

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Iran:

  • Rouhani Throws His Weight behind Labour, Roads, Agriculture Ministers ahead of Impeachment

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Javan:

  • Iranian Heroes: We’re Committed to Our Beliefs
  • Iranian Athletes’ Anti-Zionist Stances, from Mir-Esmaeili to Pakdaman, Karimi
  • Agriculture Minister Harshly Attacks “Monster” of Food Imports

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Jomhouri Eslami:

  • Chamber of Commerce: 70% of Economy Held by Those Who Just Cause Loss
  • Zarif: Iran Trying to Alleviate Pains of War-Torn People of Syria, Yemen
  • UN Human Rights Council: Israel’s Settlement Constructions War Crime
  • Palestine Foreign Ministry: Arabs’ Incompetence Reason for Trump’s Bold Move against Quds

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Kayhan:

  • Rouhani: We Have No Budget Deficit This Year
  • Central Bank Governor: We Have IRR 330,000 Billion in Deficit
  • Takfiri Terrorists Firing Rockets at al-Fouta, Kefraya in Insane Way

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Payam-e Zaman:

  • Fever of Credentialism and 40% Unemployment of University Graduates

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Rah-e Mardom:

  • Britain’s Share from Saudi Arabia’s Oil Increased

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Rooyesh-e Mellat

  • Pompeo: Trump’s Meeting with N. Korean Leader Not for Show
  • Iran Foreign Ministry to Facilitate Economic Ties Based on Resistance Economy

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Sayeh:

  • Member of Tehran City Council Concerned about Increased Depression in Society

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Sazandegi:

  • People Queue Up for Immigration: Iranians Waiting for Canada, Australia’s Visa

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Shahrvand:

  • Realizing Great China or Return to Dark Era of Mao

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Shargh:

  • Rouhani, Larijani, Amoli Larijani Absent from Expediency Council Sessions for Ahmadinejad’s Presence?
  • Shadow of Iran Nuclear Deal on Meeting of Trump, Kim Jong-un (Editorial)
  • Iran VP for Women Affairs Talks of Efforts to Release 250 Female Prisoners

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12


 

Vatan-e Emrooz:

  • British Ambassador: I Was Saddened by Raid on Iran Embassy
  • UK Police Releases 4 Assailants Who Attacked Iran Embassy

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on March 12

Iran Urges Austria to Be More Careful in Protecting Diplomatic Facilities

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Bahram Qassemi said Tehran is in contact with Austrian officials over the recent raid on the Iranian diplomatic building.

“The assailant was around 26 years old and apparently had Austrian nationality, and no information is available regarding his identity and actions,” said the spokesman.

“We are in touch with Austrian officials in Vienna and Tehran, and I hope Austrian police and government authorities will be able to achieve the required outcome in the probe they launched last night, and [I hope] we’ll be able to receive a more precise report on the motive and identity of the attacker in the coming hours,” Qassemi said.

He also said he has contacted the Iranian ambassador in Austria.

“The residence of the Iranian ambassador in Austria was not damaged as a result of the incident, but based on the news we’ve received, the sentry at the residence of the Iranian ambassador in Austria was wounded and taken to hospital,” said the spokesman.

He noted there are speculations and word of mouth that the attacker was a foreigner, but had Austrian nationality.

“We have asked the Austrian government to look into the issue as soon as possible, and pay more attention to the protection of Iranian diplomatic locations in that country.”

Raid on Iran’s Diplomatic Residence in Vienna: Attacker Shot Dead

According to Austrian police, the attacker was gunned down by one of the bodyguards at the building.

The assailant was reportedly armed with a cold weapon and was trying to break into the ambassador’s residence, wrote the Persian-language Fars News Agency quoting foreign media.

One of the bodyguards at the residence was taken to hospital with an arm wound.

According to the Austrian Defence Ministry, the bodyguards first used pepper sprays to stop the assailant, but it was ineffective and they finally had to shoot.

The 26-year-old assailant’s motive is not clear.

Security measures have been stepped up at all embassies and diplomatic locations at the Austrian capital following the incident.

No further details are available for now.

The attack came a couple of days after a number of people supporting the so-called Shirazi cult raided the Iranian embassy in the British capital, London, last Friday. They were all apprehended by police, at last.

Iran Expresses Deep Regret over Turkish Plane Crash

Bahram Qassemi

In a Sunday statement, Qassemi said a number of relief teams rushed to the site of the plane crash despite severe climate of the region for closely monitoring the situation and providing relief aid.

The Turkish private plane en route from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Istanbul crashed in southwestern Iran earlier Sunday.

Reports say the plane fell down near Shahr-e Kord, the capital city of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.

A spokesman for Iran’s Emergency Organization said all the 11 people abroad the jet have been killed.

He added the bodies of the plane’s passengers have been burned completely and their identification will become possible only through DNA tests.