President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during their meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister, stressed the importance of working together to promote peace and prosperity in the region and said that India’s aggressive actions pose a threat to regional peace and stability.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the President of Pakistan met with Iranian Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araqchi to discuss bilateral and mutual interest issues. The meeting discussed the regional security situation, especially the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident.
Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan and Iran have historical and brotherly relations.
On this occasion, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that he visited Pakistan on the instructions of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Peshmerga, while understanding Pakistan’s position on the current situation.
The Iranian Foreign Minister urged the parties to exercise restraint to reduce tensions and said that Iran attaches importance to relations with Pakistan and is keen to further strengthen bilateral relations with Pakistan in mutual interest.
The situation in Afghanistan was also discussed in the meeting. The Iranian Foreign Minister assured to work with Pakistan on regional issues. The President thanked the Iranian Foreign Minister for his visit to Pakistan and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy.
The situation in Gaza was also discussed in the meeting, and both sides condemned the ongoing atrocities and human rights violations by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank.
Meeting with the Prime Minister
According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araqchi met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
The Prime Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Iranian Foreign Minister over the loss of precious lives and the injury of hundreds of people in the tragic explosion in the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas.
Shahbaz Sharif expressed his best wishes for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezishkian. He said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its historic, deep brotherly relations with Iran.
The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s deep concern over the current tension in South Asia as a result of India’s provocative behavior since the Pahalgam incident, saying that Pakistan has acted with utmost responsibility in this entire situation.
He said that Pakistan has offered to conduct an international transparent, impartial and credible investigation to ascertain the facts behind the Pahalgam incident.The Prime Minister also stressed that India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and using it as a water aggression is unacceptable as water is a red line for the people of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to work with Iran for peace, stability and development in the region. Abbas Araqchi conveyed a congratulatory message from the Iranian leadership to the Prime Minister and reiterated Iran’s commitment to strengthen its relations with Pakistan and play its role for peace and stability in South Asia.
He also reiterated President Pezishkian’s invitation to the Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Iran later this year.
