ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrives in Iran for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Foreign Minister Dr Javad Zarif.
In a video statement prior to his departure from the United Arab Emirates to Iran on Tuesday, the foreign minister said important regional matters would come under discussion during the visit to Tehran. Qureshi mentioned that Iran being a neighbour of Afghanistan was an important country for Pakistan in view of pursuing the efforts towards peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He thanked the Supreme Leadership of Iran for supporting Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and for taking a clear stance in this regard. He said the meetings with Iranian leadership would also focus on strengthening the bilateral relations.
The foreign minister mentioned that Iran had appreciated Pakistan’s proposal for establishing border markets and added that the matter would also be discussed. He termed Iran not only Pakistan’s neighbour but a “tested friend” and expressed a desire to strengthen ties in all areas.
During the visit, the foreign minister will hold delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Zarif. He will call on President Dr Hassan Rouhani and Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The Foreign Minister will also visit the city of Mashhad. During the delegation-level talks, the two Foreign Ministers will review bilateral relations with a view to further deepening cooperation in diverse fields.
The two sides will discuss the regional security situation including the latest developments in the Afghan Peace Process and the Jammu & Kashmir dispute. They will also deliberate on strengthening regional cooperation under the umbrella of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
Foreign Minister Qureshi’s visit to Iran is part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Zarif visited Pakistan in November 2020 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Qureshi, while the two Foreign Ministers met on 30 March 2021 on the sidelines of the 9th session of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Foreign Minister Qureshi last visited Iran in January 2020.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi was seen off at Abu Dhabi airport by Ambassador Afzal Mahmood and senior officials of the foreign ministry.
