Iran’s President Raisi conducts three-day official visit to Pakistan
Published on: May 1, 2024.
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April 22, 2024 01:36 pm | Updated 01:36 pm IST – Islamabad
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Embarks on Historic Visit to Pakistan
In a significant development, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has arrived in Islamabad for a three-day official visit, marking the first visit by a head of state to Pakistan after the country’s general elections on February 8. The visit is expected to strengthen the ties between the two neighboring countries.
Upon his arrival at Islamabad Airport, President Raisi received a warm welcome from Pakistan’s Housing Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu. Accompanied by a high-level delegation including the Foreign Minister and other members of the Cabinet, President Raisi is set to meet with Pakistan’s top leadership during his stay in the country.
President Raisi has a packed schedule for his visit to Pakistan, including meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, and Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq. He will also travel to Lahore and Karachi to meet with the provincial leadership.
Today, President Raisi is expected to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where both leaders will participate in a sapling plantation event at the Prime Minister’s House to commemorate Earth Day. Additionally, a signing ceremony for memorandums of understanding between Iran and Pakistan for cooperation in various fields will take place. The visit will also include the naming of a highway in Islamabad as Iran Avenue, followed by a press talk and a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz for the Iranian delegation.
This visit comes months after tensions between the two countries rose when Iran conducted airstrikes against alleged militant hideouts in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. In response, Pakistan carried out targeted military strikes in Iran’s Siestan-Balochistan province. However, diplomatic channels were quickly utilized to de-escalate the situation. President Raisi’s visit is seen as an opportunity to further strengthen the bond between the two nations.
Source: [The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com)
