TEHRAN (DNA) -Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Dr. Hassan Rouhani have vowed to work hand in hand.

The also  witnessed the Signing of the Declaration of Cooperation in the field of Health between the Ministry of NHSR & C Pakistan and Ministry of Health and Medical Education Iran.The understanding came at a meeting between Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani and Prime Minister Imran Khan during talks in Tehran on Monday

Later addressing a joint news conference, the Iranian President said
unfortunately we witnessed some tensions in the border areas in the
recent past where the terrorists perpetrated their nefarious acts.  He
said both the sides during talks reaffirmed their commitment to peace
and security in the whole region.

The Iranian President said both the sides have expressed the keenness to
develop their bilateral relations.  He said we also emphasized that no
third country can harm the brotherly and close relations between the two
countries.

Hassan Rouhani said both the countries have also agreed to bolster their
trade and economic relations. We have agreed to set up a barter
committee so that goods and other items could be exchanged.

The Iranian President said we are also interested in establishing links
between Gwadar and Chahbhar ports in order to strengthen our commerce
relations.

The Iranian President said his country is ready to meet the oil and gas
requirements of Pakistan. He said we have already taken the measures to
construct the gas pipeline to Pakistani border.  He said Iran is also
ready to increase the exports of electricity to Pakistan.

The two leaders also discussed regional peace and security with
particular reference to Afghanistan.

The Iranian President also accepted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s
invitation to visit Pakistan.

The Iranian President expressed the confidence that the visit of Prime
Minister will serve to be a turning point  in expanding relations
between the two countries.

Addressing the news conference, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the two
countries have decided to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism to
ensure that no country’s land is used against each other.

Referring to the recent terrorist incident in Balochistan, which claimed
lives of fourteen security personnel, the Prime Minister said incidents
of terrorism affect relations between the two countries.

He said the entire political leadership in Pakistan has pledged that no
militant group will be allowed to operate from Pakistan and the soil of
Pakistan will not be permitted to be used against any other country.

He said enhanced cooperation between the two countries will improve
bilateral trust, which will help strengthen overall relations between
the two countries.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan has suffered the most in the world due
to terrorism, losing over seventy thousand people. He said the armed
forces of Pakistan deserve to be appreciated for the way they handled
the menace of terrorism and overcame it.

Imran Khan said the two sides also decided to cooperate for helping in
peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict. He said Pakistan and Iran
both have been affected by the unrest in Afghanistan, and peace and
stability in Afghanistan will prove beneficial for both Islamabad and
Tehran.

He said the entire spectrum of bilateral relations was discussed between
the two sides for enhancing cooperation in diverse fields. He said
Pakistan would like to benefit from Iran’s primary healthcare system. He
said the two countries need to benefit from each other in energy,
science and technology and other areas of mutual interest besides
enhancing trade.

Referring to the Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir, the Prime
Minister said there is no military solution to the lingering dispute but
it can only be resolved through political settlement. He said the
settlement of the dispute will help take forward the entire subcontinent
and improve economic and trade linkages in the region.

The Prime Minister thanked the Iranian President for the hospitality and
respect extended to him during the visit.

Pakistan and Iran also signed a memorandum of understanding for
cooperation in the health sector.