Defense cooperation between Iran, Pakistan inevitable: Pak NDU chief

In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Lieutenant General Nazir Ahmed Butt said both countries need to have closer understanding in defense and military fields. 

“We are in fact already very late in this aspect, we need to start from training exchanges, then we can include joint defense production, sharing technologies, and then military exercises,” he said.

The general said he is 'very hopeful and very keen that this level of integration and cooperation should start as earlier as possible.'

The general went on to say that there are very close brotherly ties between Iran and Pakistan so it is very encouraging to see a recent meeting between President Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif which took place in New York on the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Whenever the officials of both countries have an opportunity to meet, they should discuss ways to strengthen defense cooperation,” he said. 

General Butt added that Iran and Pakistan face identical challenges like the threat of terrorism and Daesh which are real danger. 

“So if we integrate commercially, socially and in defense and military domain, it would have more positive impact on our bilateral relations,” viewed the NDU head.

He said that Pakistan would e do send our students to Iran and receive students from Iran an NDU. We need to increase the number of students being exchanged. 

“Iran is brotherly country and we would certainly like to accommodate Iranian students here and would like to learn from their experience also. Iran has tremendous experience and rich history we would like to benefit from their experience,” the general said. 

He also conveyed best wishes to Iran on the auspicious occasion of Iranian defence week.

'Nothing can stop Iran from attaining the rightful status in the world and this is a fact. Iran has under gone lot of turbulence particularly in past three decades but the Iranian nation remained united and demonstrated national resolve against all issues.' 

“We take lot of pride in our association with Iran. The relations between Iran and Pakistan are deep rooted in history and culture and there is no doubt about that Iran has always stood with Pakistan,” he said.