ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday received Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and discussed bilateral ties and the heightened tensions between Pakistan and India after the Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
President Zardari welcomed the Iranian foreign minister and stressed the significance of cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in promoting peace and prosperity in the region, according to a press statement issued by the President House.
The Iranian foreign minister during the meeting said that he is visiting on the orders of Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and Supreme Leader, Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Khamenei.
He also expressed understanding of Pakistan’s position on the current regional situation and urged both sides to exercise restraint in order to defuse the tensions.
The Foreign Minister emphasised that Iran values its relationship with Pakistan and is committed to further strengthening bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of both brotherly nations.
He underscored the importance of fully realising the potential of bilateral trade and expressed Iran’s willingness to enhance economic cooperation.
He also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and assured Iran’s readiness to work in close coordination with Pakistan on all regional issues.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed gratitude to the Iranian Foreign Minister for visiting Pakistan at a critical time.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, while voicing concern over India’s aggressive stance, which he warned poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
The president also underscored the need to strengthen bilateral trade for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The two sides also discussed the situation in Gaza and strongly condemned the ongoing atrocities and human rights violations by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank.
The foreign minister also conveyed the best wishes of the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for President Asif Ali Zardari.
Earlier in the day, the Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the prevailing tensions in South Asia and India’s provocative behaviour since the Pahalgam incident.
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to work closely with Iran for peace, stability, and development in the region.
The Prime Minister categorically rejected any attempts to link Pakistan to the incident, without sharing any evidence.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi, met also with Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, today in Islamabad. Both sides exchanged views on major regional and international developments.
Ishaq Dar shared Pakistan’s serious concerns over the prevailing tensions in South Asia as a result of India’s provocative behaviour since the Pahalgam incident.
