Iran, Pakistan to open border crossing point to ease trade exchange

A border crossing point will open between Iran and Pakistan to increase economic and trade exchanges, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said of Friday.

According to Khatibzadeh, the checkpoint, located between Iran’s Rimdan border area in southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province and Pakistan’s Gabd border, will open on Saturday by the senior officials of the two countrie, Press TV reported.

The spokesman noted that during a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Islamabad last month, the top Iranian and Pakistani diplomats agreed to open the Rimdan-Gabd cross-border gateway as soon as possible.

“The construction of this border gateway between the two friendly and neighboring states and the recent inauguration of Khaf-Herat railway project show that the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches special priority to interaction and cooperation with its neighbors,” the Iranian spokesperson said.

Iran believes that development and progress in West Asia region depend on close cooperation among neighboring countries, he added.

The point is believed to be suitably located for the export and import of fruits, livestock, construction material, and petroleum products. The Iranian side of the crossing point has been equipped with modern communication systems, livestock and vegetable quarantine and other required facilities for the import of mango and livestock, wrote pakistantoday.com.pk.

For now, the two countries are using the Mirjaveh–Taftan crossing on a 909-kilometer-long stretch between the two countries.

A joint railway project linking eastern Iran to western Afghanistan was inaugurated on December 10 with presidents of the two neighboring countries delivering remarks through video-conference and expressing hope it will enhance trade links across the region.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the two nations have always had a close relationship and that the Khaf-Herat railway project will further strengthen this bond.

Source: Iran Daily