Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is in Pakistan on a three-day trip to discuss regional and bilateral relations, a few days after Iran and Israel attacked each other and threatened to escalate the Gaza war into a regional conflict. Raisi will hold talks with Pakistan’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the neighbors seek to mend relations after the January missile attack.
Raisi will also meet Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, who has a huge political and economic presence, according to local media in the South Asian country.
Official reason for this trip:
The Islamic Republic of Iran is interested in promoting relations with Pakistan in line with its neighborhood policy, according to a statement released by the Iranian president’s office on Monday. During the trip various issues will be discussed with the government of Pakistan, including economic and trade issues, energy and border issues.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan called for improving bilateral relations.” The two sides have a comprehensive agenda to strengthen Pakistan-Iran relations and enhance cooperation in various fields including trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture and people-to-people interaction,” the statement said. The Iranian president will visit major cities including Lahore and Karachi and focus on bilateral and trade relations.
The current state of Iran-Pakistan relations:
Iran-Pakistan relations have been uneasy, and both blame the other for curbing insurgent groups. Tensions have risen along the border in January, when Iran carried out cross-border airstrikes in Pakistan that killed two children, according to Iranian state media, targeting two bases of the militant group Jaish al-Adli. Pakistan responded by firing a missile into Iranian territory and recalling its ambassador from Tehran. But the neighbors decided to ease tensions as Tehran rushed its top diplomat to Islamabad to mend ties. Both countries agreed to jointly fight the “threat of terrorism”, especially in the border region.
Before Rais’ visit, Tehran and Islamabad talked about the fight against “terrorism”.
The importance of Iran-Pakistan relations:
Pakistan’s foreign policy analysts supported restoring relations with Iran despite border tensions. Pakistan has border disputes with India and Afghanistan. And that is why it was and is very important for Pakistan to have normal and stable relations with Iran.
There is significant informal trade between the two countries, including liquefied natural gas (LPG) and petroleum. Iran also supplies electricity to Balochistan province and other border areas of Pakistan.
In May 2023, Sharif and Raisi opened the first border market at the Mand-Pishin border crossing. In addition, both neighbors share cultural and religious ties. Tens of thousands of Shia minorities from Pakistan make a pilgrimage to Iran every year.
In conclusion, the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Rais to Pakistan has international significance because it directly affects all neighboring countries and has an indirect effect across most of the globe, attracting the attention of all prominent leaders.
