WANA (Nov 26) – Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, announced Tehran’s readiness to connect Pakistan to the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), describing the linkage as a major opportunity to expand economic and transit cooperation between the two countries.

 

Larijani met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, November 25, in Islamabad. During the meeting, both sides underlined the firm determination of Tehran and Islamabad to strengthen economic relations, calling the pursuit of higher levels of trade and investment a shared and essential objective.

 

Prime Minister Sharif, highlighting the existing capacities between the two neighbors, said that increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion is entirely achievable. “Pakistan is ready to expand its cooperation with Iran in all areas,” he stated.

 

The two officials also emphasized the importance of boosting regional cooperation and multilateral frameworks, assessing coordinated efforts between Tehran and Islamabad as crucial for managing regional challenges.

 

Larijani further stressed the need to develop transit infrastructure, calling for the reconstruction and completion of the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul railway and better utilization of its freight and passenger potential.

 

He reiterated Iran’s readiness to integrate Pakistan into the INSTC, describing the connection as a significant opportunity to enhance bilateral economic and transit ties.

 

The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is an interregional transport network linking India, Iran, Russia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe, designed to reduce the time and cost of shipping goods between South Asia and Northern Europe.

Larijani met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Larijani met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Social media/ WANA News Agency