BAGHDAD, Iraq: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Iraq on Saturday for a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in key areas.
Upon his arrival in Baghdad, President Zardari was accorded a warm welcome by Iraqi authorities.
Iraq’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, Professor Dr Ahmed Fakkak Ahmed Al-Badrani, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iraq Muhammad Zeeshan Ahmed, and other senior officials received Pakistan’s President at the airport.
President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Baghdad on a four-day official visit to Iraq. He was received by Culture Minister, Dr. Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani. During the visit, meetings with senior Iraqi leadership are expected to advance cooperation further strengthen 🇵🇰-🇮🇶 relations. pic.twitter.com/a8coASfF5U
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) December 20, 2025
During the visit, will hold high-level meetings with the Iraqi leadership to review bilateral ties and explore ways to strengthen cooperation in key areas of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said on Friday.
According to the Foreign Office, President Zardari is visiting the Middle Eastern country at the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid.
The visit underscores the “longstanding, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iraq, rooted in shared bonds of faith, culture, and mutual respect”, the Foreign Office said.
During his meetings with the Iraqi leadership, President Zardari will review bilateral relations between the two countries and explore ways to further strengthen cooperation across key areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, energy, reconstruction, manpower, technology, education, and people-to-people exchanges, the Foreign Office stated.
The discussions will also cover regional and international developments, as well as cooperation at multilateral forums, according to the Foreign Office statement.
“The visit is expected to reinforce the traditionally warm and cordial ties between the two countries, identify new avenues of partnership, and enhance people-to-people linkages, particularly in the context of religious tourism and economic collaboration.
“The official visit reflects Pakistan’s continued engagement with Iraq and its commitment to fostering a result-oriented, forward-looking, and strategic partnership that contributes to Iraq’s stability and development, as well as to regional peace and prosperity,” the statement said.
Pakistan and Iraq established diplomatic relations in 1947 and have maintained cordial ties.
The two countries have stepped up high-level official exchanges in recent months, reflecting efforts to broaden and deepen bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation across economic, political and people-to-people domains.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held talks with his Iraqi counterpart, General Abdul Ameer Al-Shammari, on the sidelines of meetings in Brussels, where both officials agreed to deepen cooperation on security and the facilitation of Pakistani pilgrims travelling to Iraq, including measures to ensure smooth travel and compliance with visa rules.
