- President Pezeshkian welcomes Pakistan’s role in Iran-US dialogue.
- Leaders discuss regional issues of peace, security and connectivity.
- CDF Munir meets Pezeshkian on regional stability talks: ISPR.
During a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s constructive contribution to the Iran-US dialogue and reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and regional peace.
President Pezeshkian landed in Islamabad earlier today for a one-day visit following the Islamabad-brokered talks between Tehran and Washington in Switzerland.
The trip — Pezeshkian’s first foreign visit since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 — comes a day after Pakistan and Qatar announced that the first round of high-level U.S.-Iran talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, had produced a 60-day road map to a final agreement.
The Iranian president arrived aboard a special plane operated by Mirage Airlines, identified as Minab 168 – a symbolic tribute to the 168 children martyred in an attack on their school by the United States and Israel in the Iranian town of Minab.
On a red carpet and a guard of honor, the Iranian president was welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior leaders, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was also present.
This is Dr. Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan in his capacity as President of Iran.
During his meeting with President Zardari, Pezeshkian discussed bilateral relations, mainly regional peace and security, bilateral and regional connectivity, economic cooperation and other issues of mutual interest, the Presidential House said in a statement.
The Iranian President was accompanied by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Head of the Presidential Office Mohsen Haji Mirzaei, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Head of Political Affairs of the Presidential Office Saeed Abbas Mousavi and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam.
From the Pakistani side, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, former Foreign Minister and Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Senate Chief Senator Saleem Mandviwala and Dr Asim Hussain were present in the meeting.
President Zardari welcomed President Pezeshkian on his first state visit to Pakistan after the recent conflict and noted that this visit reflects the long-standing brotherly relations between the two countries and the desire to stay together in good times and bad.
He congratulated President Pezeshkian on signing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and expressed hope that the ongoing technical negotiations would result in permanent peace in the region.
The President reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support for Iran’s peace, stability, national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said Pakistan has always opposed unilateral initiatives and supported dialogue and diplomacy as means to achieve a lasting solution to regional and global challenges.
He also highlighted Islamabad’s commitment to preserving the unity of the Muslim Ummah while maintaining strong fraternal relations with countries in the Gulf region.
President Zardari once again expressed condolences over the martyrdom of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei and said Pakistan would participate in his funeral.
Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for its positive and constructive efforts towards peace and dialogue and appreciated the support provided by Pakistan in the recent difficult circumstances.
He said Iran attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and hopes to further expand cooperation in political, economic, security and regional fields.
President Zardari asked President Pezeshkian to convey his warm greetings to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.
CDF Munir calls President Pezeshkian
Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met with Iranian President Pezeshkian during which views on regional developments and peace initiatives were exchanged, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The Iranian President appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and responsible role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation and regional stability.
He acknowledged Islamabad’s consistent efforts to encourage peaceful resolution of disputes and foster understanding among regional stakeholders at a time of heightened geopolitical challenges.
Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the region.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran relations and maintain close consultations on issues of mutual interest, with the common aim of advancing peace, prosperity and stability in the region.
