Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held “substantive” talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to boost cooperation in key areas of security, trade and energy, after which the two sides inked nine pacts, including one on double taxation avoidance. “Both leaders held substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security & regional issues,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Addressing a joint press event with Rouhani, Modi said the visit by the Iranian president shows how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity. Giving details of their comprehensive talks, Modi said they discussed threats posed by terrorism, drug trafficking and other challenges. For his part, Rouhani said, “We are determined to combat terrorism and extremism.” The Iranian leader also said regional conflicts must be resolved through diplomacy and political initiatives. PM Modi also appreciated the way the Iranian leader provided leadership in developing the strategically important Chabahar Port.
Apart from tax pact, the two sides also exchanged instrument to ratify the extradition treaty as well as to simplify visa process. Earlier, Rouhani was given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the morning, India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj called on Rouhani and discussed various issues with him.
Rouhani calls for unity among Muslims
Rouhani, who is a senior Shia cleric too, earlier visited the historic Makkah Masjid, a Sunni mosque, in Hyderabad, to offer prayers and called for unity among Muslims across the world. Addressing the congregation after Friday prayers, he said unity among Shias, Sunnis and other Islamic denominations was the only solution to the problems faced by the Muslim world.
In his 30-minute speech in Persian, said to be the first by a any country’s leader in this mosque, Rouhani urged Muslims to treat all human beings with love and affection in the true spirit of Islam. On the second day of his three-day visit to India, he joined worshippers in offering prayers at the 17th century mosque, noting that Friday prayers symbolise the unity among Muslims as they come together to pray. Accompanied by ministers and senior officials, Rouhani offered ‘namaz’and sat through the sermons delivered in Arabic by Moulana Rizwan Qureshi, Imam of the mosque.
Reciting verses from Quran, the Iranian President said the Prophet Mohammad was mercy for all the worlds and he was sent as the model for mankind to follow. “If Islam is presented before the world in true sense, then the whole world will love this religion,” he said. Rouhani said if Muslims were facing problems in different parts of the world today, it was because they had distanced themselves from real teachings of Islam. “If there is violence and conflicts in some Islamic countries, it is because we have not guided the younger generation towards Islam and its true meaning,” he said.
