Islamabad (Jan-23-2024) : Iftikhar Khan, advisor to the President of the FPCCI, expressed his admiration on Tuesday for the decision made by the leadership of Pakistan and Iran to completely restore diplomatic relations between the two brotherly countries.
Iftikhar Khan said that within the next few days, the ambassadors of both countries will report back to their respective capitals of Tehran and Islamabad.
Moreover, both nations will work to improve their cooperation and close coordination about counterterrorism and other issues that are of mutual importance, he informed.
In a statement issued here today, the business leader said that this action on the part of leadership of both the countries is a commendable demonstration of the amount of political maturity that the leadership of both countries possesses.
He went on to say that tensions were having a detrimental effect on both nations, that both economies were experiencing hardship, and that millions of people who relied on trade over the border were concerned.
Iftikhar Khan stated that millions of individuals who are involved in the trade between the two countries have finally been able to exhale a sigh of relief and that the prices of things that have increased as a result of tensions are gradually decreasing after having increased.
According to him, the two countries that are geographically close to one another have maintained strong relations for generations, and tensions were not in anyone’s best interest because they will have an impact on the entire region in addition to the two countries.
Iran imports grain, fruit, citrus, and a few other products from Pakistan, whereas Pakistan imports petrol, LPG, leather, plastic, tiles, iron, edible oil, medicine, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and a wide variety of other items from Iran.
On the other hand, he stated that if this specific commerce is made legal, it will be beneficial for both countries.
He said that the rumours about the postponement of the election owing to tensions between Pakistan and Iran were hot, which caused the people to become agitated; however, the gossip have been put to rest.
It may be recalled that following Tehran’s strikes within Pakistan’s Panjgur, Balochistan, which targeted what Tehran characterised as the “headquarters” of the militant group Jaish al-Adl, which is responsible for terror acts inside Iran tensions between the two neighbouring nations rose.
The attack prompted Islamabad to launch a series of strikes inside Iranian territory in less than forty-eight hours, targeting “hideouts” used by terrorist organisations, specifically the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front in the province of Sistan-Balochistan.
However, things soon improved at a rapid pace because of the positive attitude of the leaders of both countries.
He also praised the role of China and other friendly countries that have also played a very important role in diffusing tensions through back-channel diplomacy, he said.
Iftikhar Khan said that neither nation should permit the elements that are active in the border regions to come into contact with one another in a brotherly manner.
