Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday met Pakistan’s top leadership in Islamabad, where the two sides discussed regional developments, recent peace efforts involving the US, and ways to strengthen bilateral ties. During the day-long visit, Pezeshkian held talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and separately met Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The visit comes days after Iran and the US held talks in Switzerland under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed on Thursday to restore peace in West Asia and advance negotiations on regional security and other contentious issues. According to the two sides, the talks in Switzerland ended with an agreement on a roadmap to reach a final deal in 60 days.
Pezeshkian held talks with Zardari shortly after receiving an official welcome that was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, the Iranian president praised Pakistan’s “constructive contribution” to the Iran-US dialogue and reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and regional peace.
Zardari welcomed Pezeshkian on his first state visit to Pakistan after the recent conflict with the US and said the visit reflected the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries. He also congratulated him on the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and said he hoped the ongoing technical-level negotiations would lead to permanent peace in the region.
Separately, Field Marshal Munir called on Pezeshkian and the two exchanged views on regional developments and peace initiatives, according to a statement by the army. The statement said Pezeshkian “appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and responsible role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and regional stability”.
“He acknowledged Pakistan’s consistent efforts to encourage peaceful resolution of disputes and foster understanding among regional stakeholders at a time of heightened geopolitical challenges,” the army said. Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the region.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations and maintaining close consultations on issues of mutual interest, with the shared objective of advancing peace, prosperity and stability across the region,” the army said.
According to the report, Pezeshkian’s visit is aimed at discussing the full implementation of all clauses of the agreement signed between Iran and the US, along with regional and international developments of mutual interest. Before leaving Tehran, he said the visit “aims to secure full implementation of the memorandum under international law”. Iran’s state-run Press TV said he added that the agreement would help strengthen stability and security in West Asia.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said “the effectiveness of the talks depends on full commitment to the agreed obligations and their precise implementation.” He added: “Progress on this path will be measured by practical adherence to accepted responsibilities. Statements outside the agreed text do not help advance the negotiations.”
The high-level talks between Iran and the US at the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland were held on Sunday and Monday under the framework of the Islamabad MoU. The agreement, signed on Thursday, was meant to advance negotiations on regional security and other contentious issues.
The Iranian president arrived earlier at Nur Khan airbase, where he was received by Zardari, Sharif and other senior officials, according to state-run PTV. Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder jets escorted Pezeshkian’s plane after it entered the country’s airspace.
Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad from Muscat. He had travelled to Muscat along with Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for high-level talks with the Omani leadership on the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on Monday that the visit would allow both sides to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore new avenues for cooperation in trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchanges and regional connectivity. It also said the visit would provide an opportunity to discuss diplomatic engagements after the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, besides regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Security remained on high alert in Islamabad during the visit. The government closed bus terminals in the capital to restrict the movement of people coming into the city, while the Red Zone was shut. The Islamabad High Court and the Federal Constitutional Court also postponed hearings because both are located in the high-security Red Zone, where visitors were not allowed.
Overall, Pezeshkian’s visit centred on Pakistan-Iran ties, the implementation of the Iran-US understanding reached under the Islamabad MoU, and wider regional developments, with both sides underlining support for dialogue, peace and stability.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
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