Iran's President In Pakistan: Key Highlights Of Ebrahim Raisi's Visit, Silent On Kashmir

The Kashmir issue was raised by Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif with visiting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday, and he was thanked for 'supporting' Pakistan's stand on Kashmir.

However, in an apparent snub to his Pakistani hosts, the Kashmir issue was decided to be skipped by the Iranian president during his statement to the media following the meeting with Shehbaz Sharif. Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also agreed to collaborate on ending terrorism while deliberations were held on fostering cooperation between their nations, as reported by First Post.

Iranian President Visits Pakistan And Its Importance

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi highlighted during a joint news conference that the current level of bilateral commerce between Iran and Pakistan is deemed "not acceptable," and a decision has been made to raise it to USD 10 billion.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement indicating that a warm welcome was extended to the Iranian president upon his arrival at Islamabad Airport by Pakistan's ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, and Housing Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, as reported by Hindustan Times.

The Iranian president, accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation comprising the foreign minister, additional Cabinet members, and senior officials, was received with honour upon arrival.

During his three-day official visit to Pakistan, President Raisi is scheduled to meet with senior leadership, including the army chief, President Asif Ali Zardari, Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Meetings with provincial leaders in Lahore and Karachi are also planned, along with a guard of honour and activities commemorating Earth Day, such as planting a seedling at the Prime Minister's house. The visit follows months of tension between Iran and Pakistan, highlighted by tit-for-tat airstrikes against suspected terrorist hideouts in each other's territories, as reported by Hindustan Times.

In January, Iran conducted airstrikes in Balochistan, prompting Pakistan to respond with precision military strikes in Iran's Sistan-Balochistan province. Despite the initial escalation, both countries swiftly engaged in diplomatic channels to ease tensions. President Raisi's visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly with Israel. Discussions are expected to focus on regional and global developments, bilateral cooperation, and combating terrorism, as reported by PTI.

Iran's official statement underscores the visit's objective of enhancing ties between the two countries, especially as Iran faces U.S. sanctions over a drone attack against Israel. The visit represents an effort to smooth over recent rifts following the airstrikes in Balochistan, demonstrating a commitment to strengthening relations between Iran and Pakistan.