The President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, met in Islamabad to strengthen economic and security cooperation between the two countries. This meeting comes after a brief diplomatic rift in January, when both countries carried out strikes in each other’s territories targeting militants. Additional security measures were put in place to ensure the safety of the Iranian president during his three-day visit to Pakistan. Both leaders discussed bilateral issues, cooperation in fighting terrorism, and condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.
During the meeting, Sharif praised Iran’s stance on the Palestine issue and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people. Raisi criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, attributing them to the support of the United States and other Western countries. He also criticized international organizations, including the United Nations, for their perceived ineffectiveness in addressing human rights violations. The leaders vowed to increase bilateral trade and called for the establishment of more border markets, building on a previous agreement between the two countries.
In addition to discussing cooperation on various issues, the two leaders signed eight agreements to strengthen ties between Iran and Pakistan. They also discussed the long-delayed gas pipeline project, which aims to supply Iranian natural gas to energy-starved Pakistan. Despite opposition from Washington due to sanctions on Iran, the project was initiated in 2013. The Iranian president is set to meet with Pakistani authorities involved in the project to discuss its progress and potential for completion in the future.
Raisi’s visit to Pakistan also includes meetings with high-level officials, including Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar. They discussed regional and global developments and reaffirmed their commitment to peace and constructive dialogue to address regional challenges. Raisi is accompanied by his spouse and a delegation, and he plans to visit Karachi and Lahore during his visit. In Lahore, he will meet with the country’s first female chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The visit comes in the wake of Iran’s airstrike into Israel, in response to an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals, highlighting the complex regional dynamics at play.
Pakistan’s lack of diplomatic relations with Israel, due to the issue of Palestinian statehood, adds another layer of complexity to Iran-Pakistan relations. The visit by the Iranian president symbolizes efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries, despite challenges and tensions in the region. Both leaders emphasized the importance of cooperation in various areas, including trade, security, and regional stability. The agreements signed during the visit are expected to pave the way for enhanced collaboration between Iran and Pakistan in the future.
