Sharif expresses satisfaction at exchanges with Iran

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today expressed satisfaction at his country's increasing high level exchanges with Iran.
Sharif met Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Khonsari and the two leaders discussed regional issues.
Sharif's meeting with Khonsari comes nearly a week after nine Iranian border guards were killed by militants in a cross-border attack on the frontier with Pakistan.
Following the attack, Iran had summoned the Pakistani envoy to protest the attack.
During Khonsari's visit, the two countries agreed to manage their porous border effectively, revive hotline between their border security forces and boost cooperation to overcome "existing challenges" at the regional and the international levels.

Sharif hoped that the two sides will continue to expand economic interaction for promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, energy and connectivity.

In this regard, he underlined the need of concerted efforts from both sides to achieve the target of USD 5 billion in the bilateral trade as soon as possible. The issues of peace and stability in the region also came under discussion during the meeting, a statement by the Prime Minister Office said.
Khonsari also called on army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Issues of bilateral interest and regional security were discussed. Both sides agreed on improving bilateral boarder coordination to deny any space to the terrorists, a statement by the Pakistani army said.