Iranian President Pezeshkian arrives in Islamabad on day-long official visit
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ISLAMABAD – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a one-day official visit, receiving a warm welcome from Pakistan’s top leadership amid ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions. The Iranian president landed at Islamabad International Airport aboard a special aircraft and was accorded a red-carpet reception and guard of honour. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior officials welcomed the visiting dignitary. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was also present. The visit comes a day after Pakistan and Qatar announced that the first round of high-level talks between the United States and Iran in Bürgenstock had resulted in a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a broader agreement. According to Habibollah Abbasi, Director of Public Relations at the Iranian President’s Office, one of the key objectives of President Pezeshkian’s visit is to thank Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the Iranian president is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers and senior government officials. During the visit, President Pezeshkian is scheduled to hold separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The talks are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in trade, energy, border management, regional connectivity and people-to-people exchanges. The Foreign Office said the visit would also provide an opportunity to review progress on diplomatic initiatives following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and exchange views on regional and international developments. In a statement, the Foreign Office said the visit reflects the commitment of Pakistan and Iran to further strengthen their longstanding ties and shared desire for peace, stability and sustainable development in the region. This is Pres