ISLAMABAD: Iran Signals Readiness to Join Silk Road Initiative with Pakistan and China to Boost Regional Connectivity
Iran on Sunday expressed its interest in joining the Silk Road initiative alongside Pakistan and China to maximize the benefits of regional connectivity. The development came during a joint meeting held in Islamabad, attended by Iranian Minister for Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, who was part of the Iranian president’s official delegation to Pakistan.
During the meeting, Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to expanding land and rail linkages to enhance bilateral and regional connectivity.
According to an official press release, discussions centered on strengthening the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries—particularly by improving transportation infrastructure, connectivity networks, and trade routes. Iran showed strong interest in becoming part of the Silk Road initiative and in expanding maritime trade via the Gwadar–Chabahar corridor.
Welcoming the Iranian delegation, Federal Minister for Privatisation and Investment, Abdul Aleem Khan, lauded Iran’s resolute stance against Israel, calling it a source of pride and unity for the Muslim world. He noted that Pakistan and Iran have consistently supported each other and that recent regional developments have brought both nations even closer.
Aleem Khan also invited Minister Sadegh to participate in the upcoming ministerial conference scheduled in Pakistan on October 23–24.
In her remarks, Minister Farzaneh Sadegh expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan’s support against Israeli aggression and extended heartfelt goodwill to the people of Pakistan. She underscored the importance of increasing the number of vehicles operating between the two countries and proposed the modernization of the Quetta–Zahedan route to improve road transport.
To accelerate the implementation of the agreed initiatives, the Pakistani side proposed the formation of bilateral working groups focused on key areas of cooperation.
Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, briefed the Iranian delegation on opportunities to expand bilateral trade. He emphasized the untapped potential across multiple sectors and noted that both countries could serve as important markets for each other.
Federal Minister for Railways, Hanif Abbasi, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to reviving and upgrading the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul Railway Project. He added that the Quetta–Zahedan rail link would also be expanded to improve cross-border logistics and regional connectivity.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Farzaneh Sadegh thanked her Pakistani counterparts for their hospitality and assured full cooperation from Iran. She described her visit as highly pleasant and memorable, expressing optimism about the future of Iran–Pakistan relations.
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