Foreign Minister Assures His Pakistani Counterpart The Importance Of Cooperation In The Fight Against Terrorism And Activating MoUs

Baghdad / NINA / - Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein met his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and they discussed ways to strengthen and develop bilateral relations between the two countries on issues of common interest. Minister Hussein stressed, during the meeting, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, the importance of strengthening aspects of bilateral relations by diversifying the frameworks of consultation, which would contribute to achieving the aspirations of Baghdad and Islamabad, and raising the pace of bilateral cooperation for the overall ongoing efforts at various political, economic, health, and development levels for the benefits of the both countries. He expressed his "aspiration to develop security cooperation in the field of combating terrorism, especially that Baghdad and Islamabad have a long experience in this regard, and the importance of holding the meetings of the Iraqi-Pakistani joint committee, and activating the memoranda of understanding between the two countries to serve the interests of the two friendly peoples." The Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed: "The government is moving towards creating an environment that attracts investment, providing ways to develop promising investment opportunities for Pakistani companies, increasing cultural exchange between the two countries through twinning universities, working to strengthen the agricultural sector, religious tourism, and ways to facilitate the granting of entry visas to Pakistanis pilgrims (visitors) wishing to visit the holy shrines in Iraq. The two sides discussed "activating a direct flight from Baghdad to Islamabad and vice versa, and activating economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries." The Pakistani minister stressed the depth of the historical and cultural ties linking the two countries, stressing his country's desire to transform good political relations into economic fields and its aspiration for more joint cooperation with Iraq in all fields, the most important of which is cooperation in the field of combating terrorism and eliminating its extremist ideology, religious tourism and facilitating granting visas for Pakistani visitors."/End