ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan back Iran's right to acquire nuclear power for peaceful purposes, during joint presser with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Addressing a joint presser in Islamabad yesterday, PM Shehbaz said that the leadership of Pakistan and Iran were keen to enhance the bilateral trade volume to the target of $10 billion as soon as possible.

Both countries signed a number of documents to transform them into agreements and to realize the potential of $10 billion trade target, adding that the respective delegations from the two sides would further hold detailed meetings to move forward in this regard.

He said during their bilateral meeting, both sides discussed the broad aspects of their bilateral ties, brotherhood relations, religious and cultural ties, and held comprehensive talks to further boost them. 

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Iranian president for his heartfelt message to the people of Pakistan. He said in June, Israel without any rhyme or reason, unleashed aggression against Iran which was not only strongly condemned by the government of Pakistan but by the entire 240 million Pakistani people, as there was no reason for Israel to stoke war.

Prime Minister Sharif also expressed his condolences on the martyrdom of Iranian generals, scientists and the civilians during the conflict and prayed for the departed souls and for the injured for their early recovery.   He also lauded the Iranian leadership for showing bravery and wisdom during the Israeli aggression and said the Iranian forces and the people faced the aggression and exposed the Israeli defence system with volleys of retaliatory missile attacks. 

The prime minister reiterated Pakistan's principled stance over Iran's right to a nuclear programme for peaceful purposes under the UN charter, saying that Pakistan would stand by its stance.

In the fight against terrorism, he said both sides shared views that it could not be tolerated at any cost. If anyone in Iran was affected by terrorism, it was akin to a victim of terror in Pakistan, he observed.  He further said the two brotherly countries would take effective measures to eliminate terrorism.

The prime minister stressed upon taking of practical steps rather than mere verbal rhetoric. In the valley of illegally occupied Kashmir, he said the situation was not different from Gaza, where the innocent people were being killed, and thanked Iran for its support for the right of the freedom of Kashmiri people.

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, in his remarks, expressed gratitude for the position adopted by the parliament, government and the people of Pakistan for supporting Iran during 10-day Israeli aggression.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 04 2025

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