ISLAMABAD: The outgoing year has seen major developments in Iran-Pakistan ties and it is expected that the year would provide a platform for fruitful relations between the two neighboring states in the coming year as well.

Iran and Pakistan have been enjoying strong brotherly relations since the creation of Pakistan way back in 1947. Since then the two countries have always been supporting each other on world issues, says a report by IRNA news agency.

In January Chairman for the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of Iran, Allauddin Boroujerdi visited Pakistan and met Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to boost bilateral ties.

Later in February the then Pakistani Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz paid a two-day official visit to Tehran to hold talks with the Iranian officials to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in diverse fields.

In the February the then Chairman of Pakistan’s National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari also visited Iran to attend sixth conference on Supporting Palestinian Intifadah (Uprising) in Tehran.

In the same month Pakistan hosted an international naval exercise ‘Aman 17’ and a delegation from Iranian Navy visited Karachi as observer of the exercise. During the year the navy ships of both the countries also visited each other for a goodwill gesture.

In February, Iranian tennis team visited Islamabad to play Davis Cup against Pakistan.

In the same month Iranian traditional ‘Kook’ band visited Pakistan to participate in the 38th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Pakistan. The group was warmly welcomed in the country and people appreciated their performance.

A major development the outgoing year saw was the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Pakistan in March to attend the 13th Economic Coordination Organization (ECO) summit in Islamabad. He had important meetings with the Pakistani leadership to enhance bilateral ties between the two friendly countries.

The visit was very successful as the two countries signed several agreements with an aim to enhance the bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

In April Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq visited Iran leading a high level delegation to promote parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.—NNI