Strengthening Pakistan Iran relations

Pezeshkian’s visit helped acknowledge Pakistan’s positive role

Pakistan and Iran are neighbouring countries maintaining strong brotherly relationships rooted in deep historical, cultural and religious ties. Both Iran and Pakistan through their respective top leaderships were actively collaborating on regional stability, border security, and trade, sharing a 

mutually beneficial goal of increasing their bilateral trade to maximum higher levels in the shortest possible time.

Their ties pertain to Pakistan's regional mediation, shared principles, economic and energy cooperation, security and border dynamics and mutual trusts. 

Following the USA-Israel coalition's unwarranted attack on Iran, Pakistan has emerged as a mediator, peacemaker and facilitator for ensuring regional peace, security and stability. These concerted efforts on the part of Pakistan's civil and military leadership initially resulted in talks between Iran and USA in Islamabad and leading to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two warring countries also in the federal capital.To advance the negotiations towards agreement leading to peace and stability in the Middle East, Pakistan hosted a delegation=level meeting between USA and Iran at Burgenstock, Switzerland where some positive headway was apparently made with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif there actively interacting with the leaders of countries participating in the Lake Lucerne Summit.

In furtherance of his country's mediation efforts, PM Shehbaz Sharif invited Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian to visit Pakistan. Both of them had constantly been in contact with each other through telephonic conversations amid the ongoing regional conflict.

In response to the PM's invitation, the Iranian President paid a one-day official visit to Pakistan forthwith and was very warmly greeted by President Asif Alli Zardari and PM Shehbaz Sharif besides a host of others. While in Islamabad, the Iranian President went through a card of heavy and hectic engagements.

The Iranian President held meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Defence Forces/Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and held a one-on-one meeting with Mr Sharif after delegation-level talks between the two countries.

Though the Iranian President's visit was short, it was certainly going to further strengthen, deepen and consolidate the mutually beneficial bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries in the coming weeks, months and years.

During his meeting with President Zardari, the distinguished guest was duly assured of Pakistan's principled support for Iran's peace, stability, national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Pakistan has persistently opposed unilateral approaches and supported dialogue and diplomacy as the only visible path to sustainable regional and global solutions and underscored Pakistan's commitment for preserving the unity of the Muslim Ummah while at the same time also maintaining strong fraternal relations with Gulf countries.

While talking to Field Marshal Munir, who had called on him, President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan's constructive and responsible role in promoting dialogue, de -escalation and regional stability.

The CDF on this occasion said that the Iranian President's visit had highlighted Pakistan's determined diplomatic efforts for ensuring regional peace and stability. 

The Iranian President concluded his short but quite meaningful and result-oriented visit by addressing a joint news conference with Mr Sharif.

Dr Pezeshkian said that he had held constructive meetings and discussions with Mr Sharif, President Zardari and Field Marshal Asim. He extended the hand of friendship for regional security architecture, called for a united Muslim front, stressed the Pak-Iran potential leadership resolve which could turn bilateral ties into a model of brotherhood and lauded Pakistan's honest mediation and steadfast support during the recent crisis and confirmed that his country's missile programme was excluded from the MoU which was signed with the USA in Islamabad.

The Iranian President opened his address by reciting verses of renowned philosopher and poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal saying that the poet 's message continued to inspire unity among Muslim nations. The great poet-philosopher's Persian poetry was very popular in Iran. As and when Iranian dignitaries visit Pakistan, they invariably ensure to visit Allama I qbal's mazar in Lahore and pay their tributes.

President Masoud Pezeshkian during his first visit two days long official visit to Pakistan in August last year had also visit Allama Iqbal's mazar and paid his rich tributes.

The Iranian President observed that Pakistan and Iran shared not only a border but also a common destiny shaped by similar aspirations, concerns and hopes, Pakistan for us is not only a neighbouring country, it is a brotherly and friendly country, adding that Iran firmly believed that peace, stability, sustainable security, development and prosperity in West Asia and the Persian Gulf region could only be achieved through sincere dialogue, regional cooperation and engagement based on mutual respect.

PM Shehbaz Sharif on his part said on this occasion that Islamabad and Teheran shared each other's joys and sorrows, announced to visit Tehran to reiterate solidarity with Iranian leadership and people, warned of spoilers who were attempting to derail emerging peace framework as both sides have pledged to open a new chapter in their bilateral ties and assured that Pakistan will never let Iran down.

Though the Iranian President's visit was short, it was certainly going to further strengthen, deepen and consolidate the mutually beneficial bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries in the coming weeks, months and years.