Iranian president arrives in Pakistan on two-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties
The two countries enjoy close ties and have signed several pacts in trade, energy and security in recent years. However, they have also remained at odds over instability along their shared porous border which led to a missile exchange between them last year, though they were quick to move to ease tensions.
'Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Lahore on Saturday for a two-day official visit to Pakistan, marking his first visit to the country since assuming office,' Pakistan's state-owned television, PTV, reported while showing the visuals of the Iranian leader's plane.
'On his arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, President Pezeshkian was warmly received by ... former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, along with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz,' it added.
This is Pezeshkian's first official visit to Pakistan as the Iranian president, according to the Pakistani foreign office. He is also accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, senior ministers and other high-ranking officials.
'During his stay, President Pezeshkian will meet with the President of Pakistan, H.E. Asif Ali Zardari, and hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister of Pakistan, H.E. Shehbaz Sharif,' the foreign office said on Friday.
Shortly after landing, Pezeshkian visited the mausoleum of Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet, who wrote in both Urdu and Persian and is widely revered in Iran and Persian-speaking communities across the world.
The Iranian leader is also expected to travel to Islamabad to hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Sharif.
Last year, Iran's late president, Ebrahim Raisi, traveled to Pakistan on a three-day visit during which both sides signed memorandums of understanding in the fields of trade, technology, agriculture, health, culture and judicial matters.
This year the ties between the two countries warmed up after Islamabad voiced its support for Tehran during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, which began after Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Pakistan remained engaged in talks with regional partners like Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Qatar to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East after Iran conducted retaliatory strikes on Israel and a US base in Qatar, raising fears the conflict could draw in other regional states.
'The visit [by the Iranian president] is expected to further strengthen the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran,' the Pakistani foreign office said on Friday in a statement announcing his two-day visit.
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