Iran’s Foreign Minister Dr. Hossain Amir Abdollahian arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad today, Wednesday, with a political and trade delegation aiming to “comprehensively expand” diplomatic relations between the two countries, Pakistan’s foreign office confirmed.
Pakistan and Iran share cordial relations based on economy, religion, linguistics, cultural linkages, and spiritual affiliation. In June, the two countries agreed to enhance trade and bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including energy and transport, after concluding two-day bilateral political consultations in Tehran.
Islamabad and Tehran also jointly inaugurated a border market and an electricity transmission line at a border crossing between the two neighboring countries in May to facilitate people on both sides of the border with enhanced cross-border trade, fostering economic growth, and opening up new avenues of opportunity for local businesses.
“Foreign Minister of Iran has arrived in Islamabad for a two-day official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) spokesperson said in a statement.
Earlier, the Iranian embassy in Islamabad wrote that the Iranian minister would be heading a political, economic, trade, parliamentary and media delegation during his official visit to Pakistan.
“The goal of the Iranian official’s visit is to comprehensively expand relations with Islamabad while also following up on previous agreements, including the Polan-Gabed electricity transmission line and the Pishin-Mand border market,” the Iranian embassy said in a press release.
The embassy said that Abdollahian will hold meetings with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Pakistan’s army chief General Syed Asim Munir, and the chairman and speaker of the upper and lower houses of the Pakistani parliament.
