President Ibrahim Raisi of Islamic Republic of Iran will arrive in Pakistan today on a three days’ official visit. It will be first visit of any head to Islamabad of the state after general elections that were held on 8th February
During his visit, as per the FO, the guest will hold meetings with Pakistani leadership including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq. Honorable guests will also visit Lahore and Karachi and hold meetings with provincial leadership.
The visit of the Iranian head of the state would be very significant as it will pave the way to enhance further cooperation in various fields including energy, trade, connectivity, agriculture and people-to-people contacts among two Muslim countries. On the occasion the talks on the much awaited Pak Iran gas pipeline and getting oil from Iran would also be moved forward.
The matters relating to the regional issues and connectivity between Gwadar and Chabahar ports would be discussed during the high level talks.
The Iranian President will be flanged by a high-level delegation comprising the foreign minister, cabinet members, senior officials and a large delegation of the business community. His wife will be also accompanying him.
The dialogue will also cover the cooperation on regional and global issues and bilateral cooperation to manage the common threat of terrorism.
Sources said President Raisi’s agenda encompasses bilateral relations, security cooperation, the gas pipeline project. Tehran and Islamabad would also explore the way for potential free trade agreement between the two countries.
The trip will see the neighboring countries mulling over a wide-ranging agenda to further strengthen bilateral ties and boost cooperation in various fields The two sides will also discuss regional and global developments and bilateral cooperation to combat the common threat of terrorism, the Foreign Office told the media.
It is very much likely that the situation of Gaza and relations of Iran with the Arab world especially with Saudi Arabia might also come under discussion during the visit of the Iranian President to Pakistan.
The visit is part of ongoing efforts by the two countries to deepen their cooperation which received a temporary setback earlier this year.
In January, relations between the two nations had turned sour after Pakistan, in retaliation to Tehran’s cross-border strikes, carried out precision strikes using killer drones, rockets, loitering munitions and stand-off weapons to target terrorists inside Iranian territory.
Pakistan had even withdrawn its ambassador from Iran and announced that it would not allow the Iranian envoy visiting his home country at that time to return as a gesture of protest against the breach of its sovereignty by Iran.
The diplomatic ties, however, were soon restored with the ambassadors of the two countries returning to their respective posts.
Owing to the tensions between Iran and Israel, Islamabad police and Rangers in collaboration with the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and intelligence agencies would adopt high alert security measures during the visit of foreign dignitary. The strict security measures also include air surveillance along with temporary internet suspension.