Islamabad: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a one-day official visit, where he is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Pakistan’s top leadership following Islamabad-mediated talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland.
The Iranian president received a red-carpet welcome upon arrival and was greeted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior officials. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also accompanying the delegation.
President Pezeshkian travelled aboard a special aircraft named Minab 168, a symbolic reference to the 168 children reportedly killed in an attack on a school in Iran’s Minab city.
The visit comes a day after Pakistan and Qatar announced that the first round of US-Iran negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland, had resulted in a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement.
According to Iranian presidential office official Habibollah Abbasi, one of the key objectives of the visit is to thank Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said President Pezeshkian is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers and senior government officials. During the visit, he will meet President Zardari and hold detailed discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The talks are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in trade, energy, border security, regional connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides are also expected to discuss recent diplomatic developments following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, along with regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The Foreign Office said the visit reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Iran to deepen their historic ties and promote peace, stability and sustainable development across the region.
This marks President Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan since assuming office and his first foreign trip since the outbreak of conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States earlier this year.
Meanwhile, mediators Pakistan and Qatar reported encouraging progress during the opening round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland. The two sides agreed on a framework for continued negotiations over the next 60 days, with technical discussions set to continue throughout the week.
According to the joint statement, negotiators also agreed on mechanisms aimed at reducing tensions in Lebanon and ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the progress made during the talks, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to supporting diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution. He also thanked Qatar and Switzerland for their roles in facilitating the negotiations and creating an environment conducive to dialogue.