Islamabad (TDI): Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian will arrive in Pakistan on Saturday for an important official visit, amid shifting regional dynamics following the Iran-Israel conflict and recent developments in South Asia.
Invited by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Pezeshkian is scheduled to begin his trip in Lahore, where he will pay homage at the mausoleum of national poet Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
From there, he will proceed to Islamabad for high-level engagements with Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership, including meetings with the President, Prime Minister, and Chief of Army Staff.
Pezeshkian’s visit agenda includes high-level meetings and dialogues with cultural and business leaders. Discussions are likley to focus on enhancing bilateral ties, which span political, economic, religious, and cultural dimensions.
Read More:Â Who Is Masoud Pezeshkian?
A significant part of the trip’s agenda will revolve around recent regional crises, especially the Iran-Israel war, the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, and lingering tensions in South Asia.
Earlier in May, following a brief but intense conflict between Pakistan and India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir made a solidarity visit to Tehran to thank the Iranian leadership for supporting Pakistan during the standoff.
Read More:Â Pezeshkian Thanks Pakistan, Warns of Israeli Moves to Split Muslim World
Iran had played an active diplomatic role at that time, with its Foreign Minister shuttling between Islamabad and New Delhi in a bid to calm tensions and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
President Pezeshkian had also held direct conversations with leaders of both countries as part of Iran’s mediation efforts.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
