ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Foreign Minister Dr. Hossain Amir Abdollahian arrived at the ministry of foreign affairs in Islamabad on Thursday, where he was welcomed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as part of a three-day visit with a political and trade delegation.
During the trip, the Iranian dignitary will also meet the Pakistani prime minister and army chief, and the chairmen and speakers of the upper and lower houses of parliament.
Pakistan and Iran are neighbors with cordial relations but have for years also accused each other of not doing enough to stamp out militants allegedly sheltering along their lengthy shared border plagued by unrest due to drug smuggling gangs, and separatist and religious militants.
The two countries held two-day political consultations in Tehran in June and agreed to enhance trade and bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including energy and transport. In May, Islamabad and Tehran jointly inaugurated a border market and an electricity transmission line at a border crossing.
“Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari welcomed Foreign Minister of Iran of Iran Hossain Amir Abdollahian at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Pakistan’s foreign office said on Thursday.
The Iranian embassy in Islamabad said a day before the Iranian minister would be heading a political, economic, trade, parliamentary and media delegation during his visit to Pakistan.
“The goal of the Iranian official’s visit is to comprehensively expand relations with Islamabad while also following up on previous agreements, including the Polan-Gabed electricity transmission line and the Pishin-Mand border market,” the Iranian embassy said in a press release.