Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, is scheduled to visit Pakistan next week on August 3, Pakistan media reported.
This visit comes just days before the incumbent government completes its term, which the officials see as a testament to the administration’s successful foreign policy.
During his visit, Amirabdollahian will hold formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart in Islamabad and also meet with the Prime Minister on the same day. Following this, he will travel with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to Karachi on August 4 to inaugurate some projects, The Express Tribune reported.
This visit comes shortly after Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, undertook a trip to Tehran, marking his first visit to Iran since assuming the role.
During his visit, General Asim Munir held talks with his Iranian counterpart and other civilian leadership, including the Iranian President and Foreign Minister.
They discussed key issues, including border security and terrorism, and both sides agreed on the common threat posed by terrorism to the region. They pledged to combat terrorism through intelligence sharing and coordinated actions against terrorist networks.
Historically, Pakistan-Iran relations have been strained due to regional rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. However, there has been a positive shift in the geopolitical environment since China brokered a landmark reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March.
This development has led to the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two regional powers, which has also benefited Pakistan. In the past, Pakistan had to navigate carefully to maintain a balance between its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and its relations with Iran.
With the improved relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan sees an opportunity to deepen not only security cooperation but also economic ties with Iran.
Recently, Pakistan agreed to barter trade with Iran and other regional countries to help mitigate the impact of Western sanctions on Tehran. China played a significant role in facilitating this shift and bringing Iran and Pakistan closer together through its diplomatic leverage.
