Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is set to embark on a three-day visit to Pakistan starting April 22, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media, Dar clarified that Raisi’s visit is unrelated to the recent tensions between Tehran and Israel. “Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Pakistan was planned before the tensions between Tehran and Tel-Aviv,” explained the foreign minister.
During his stay, President Raisi is slated to meet with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. The discussions will encompass various topics including border security, the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, trade, economic cooperation, and mutual areas of interest.
Additionally, the meetings will address the broader regional situation, signifying the ongoing efforts by both countries to strengthen their cooperation, following a brief setback earlier this year.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had confirmed the imminent visit of the Iranian president a day earlier.
In January, relations between Pakistan and Iran had soured after Pakistan responded to Tehran’s cross-border strikes by carrying out precision strikes against terrorists inside Iranian territory. This led to Pakistan temporarily withdrawing its ambassador from Iran and announcing restrictions on the Iranian envoy’s return to his home country.
However, diplomatic ties were soon restored, with both countries reinstating their ambassadors to their respective posts.
