Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and Iran have renewed their commitment to closer cooperation, regional peace, and joint support for the Palestine and Kashmir causes following Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian’s official visit to Islamabad on August 2–3, the Foreign Office said Friday.
Addressing his weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan described the visit as “timely and significant” given the region’s current volatility.
President Pezeshkian, accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and senior cabinet members, met with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
In talks with President Zardari, the two leaders emphasized the deep-rooted fraternal bonds between the two neighbors, grounded in shared religion, culture, and mutual respect.
Zardari condemned what he termed “unprovoked Israeli aggression” against Iran and praised the Iranian people’s resilience during the recent 12-day conflict. He expressed hope that the visit would further consolidate bilateral relations.
President Pezeshkian thanked Islamabad for its diplomatic backing during the conflict and for advocating de-escalation and peaceful resolution of disputes.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s discussions with the Iranian leader focused on economic cooperation, with both sides agreeing to target a jump in bilateral trade from the current $3 billion to $10 billion. Planned measures include boosting barter trade, expanding export quotas for Pakistani rice, fruits, and meat, and making border markets fully operational.
The Iranian president also met Ishaq Dar, who held separate talks with his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on regional and bilateral issues.
Khan highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing humanitarian efforts for Gaza, noting that Ishaq Dar oversaw the dispatch of the country’s 17th and 18th aid consignments earlier this month, bringing total assistance to 1,815 tons of food, medicines, and relief goods. Dar again called for an immediate ceasefire, protection of civilians, and a political settlement based on pre-1967 borders in line with UN resolutions.
The spokesperson rejected allegations of Pakistani nationals’ involvement in the Ukraine conflict as “baseless,” saying no evidence had been shared by Kyiv and that Pakistan would seek clarification directly from Ukrainian authorities.
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He also condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by thousands of Israeli settlers, including senior officials and Knesset members, calling the incident a deliberate provocation aimed at inflaming tensions. Khan urged the UN and the wider international community to act to protect the mosque’s sanctity and Palestinian rights.
Khan said Pakistan observed Yaum-e-Istehsal with renewed resolve, on the sixth anniversary of India’s August 5, 2019, actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Leaders issued special statements reiterating political, diplomatic, and moral support for the Kashmiri people, while Ishaq Dar wrote to top UN and OIC officials highlighting the worsening human rights situation, he added.
A solidarity walk led by Dar, joined by Foreign Office staff, civil society representatives, and citizens, was held in Islamabad to mark the occasion.
Khan closed his briefing by reaffirming Pakistan’s firm positions on key foreign policy issues and its determination to work for regional peace, justice, and solidarity with oppressed peoples around the world.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
