By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries, state media said.
The visit, marking his first official trip to Pakistan since assuming office, underscores a renewed push to deepen economic and security ties at a time of shifting regional dynamics.
Upon landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Pezeshkian was warmly received by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan’s state-owned television, PTV, reported. Shortly after his arrival, Pezeshkian visited the mausoleum of Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan’s national poet, whose works in Urdu and Persian resonate deeply in Iran and Persian-speaking communities worldwide. There, he penned remarks in the visitors’ book, expressing admiration for Iqbal’s contributions to Islamic philosophy and the Pakistan Movement.
Later, Pezeshkian flew to Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar greeted him at Nur Khan Air Base.
Sharif, who met Pezeshkian in Tehran in late May during a regional tour, welcomed him warmly. “I am honoured to welcome the Iranian president and look forward to substantive engagements during this important visit that will pave the way forward for stronger Pakistan-Iran ties,” Sharif said.
The visit’s primary focus is on enhancing trade and connectivity. Before departing Tehran, Pezeshkian spoke to reporters about the visit’s objectives, emphasizing the goal of elevating annual trade exchanges to $10 billion, a substantial increase from the current $3 billion. “The objective of this trip is to boost commercial and economic ties,” he said.
“Through Pakistan, Iran can connect to the Silk Road linking China and Pakistan, and the route can then extend through Iran to Europe,” he said, highlighting the strategic potential of the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. Iran’s state media, IRNA, reported that he described current trade relations as “good” and identified boosting commerce via land, air, and sea as priorities.
Iran’s state media, IRNA, reported that he described current trade relations as “good” and identified boosting commerce via land, air, and sea as priorities. “Through Pakistan, Iran can connect to the Silk Road linking China and Pakistan, and the route can then extend through Iran to Europe,” Pezeshkian added, referencing the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project as an opportunity for broader connectivity.
Security along the shared porous border, a longstanding issue, is also high on the agenda. Last year, the two countries exchanged missiles amid tensions over regional instability but swiftly moved to de-escalate. “Security and border issues are of great importance to both Iran and Pakistan,” Pezeshkian stressed, advocating for regional security through cooperation. “We believe that cross-border markets and connectivity can open new avenues for mutual cooperation.”
The visit comes against a backdrop of regional tensions, including the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, which began after Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Pakistan stood firmly by Iran during the conflict, a stance Pezeshkian acknowledged with gratitude. “Pakistan was among the countries that strongly condemned this aggression and declared its readiness to provide any necessary support for Iran’s territorial integrity, as well as for the government and people of Iran,” he said, according to IRNA.
Pezeshkian also framed the visit as a stand against external pressures. “The enemy plans to create division among Muslims, but Iran will thwart the enemies’ plots,” he said, adding that Tehran seeks to maintain “unity and solidarity” with Pakistan. “Attempts to undermine the Islamic unity between Pakistan and Iran will fail.”
This is the second visit by an Iranian president to Pakistan in as many years, following the late President Ebrahim Raisi’s three-day trip in April 2024, just a month before his death in a helicopter crash. During Raisi’s visit, the two sides signed memorandums of understanding in trade, technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial matters, setting a foundation that Pezeshkian now aims to build upon.
Pakistan’s recent expressions of solidarity with Iran, particularly during the Israel-Iran conflict, have warmed ties further. Islamabad engaged in talks with regional partners like Saudi Arabia, China, and Qatar to de-escalate Middle East tensions after Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel and a U.S. base in Qatar. Ahead of Pezeshkian’s arrival, Pakistan pledged to help defuse tensions between Iran and the United States, signaling its desire to play a mediating role in a volatile geopolitical landscape.
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