ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran will hold the 12th round of bilateral political consultations in Tehran over the weekend to evaluate different dimensions of their ties, the foreign office announced on Thursday.
The two countries have increased their official engagements in recent years and have strong religious, linguistic, cultural, and spiritual affinities. Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan after independence, while Pakistan was among the first countries to accept the new dispensation in Tehran after the 1979 revolution.
“The 12th round of Pakistan-Iran Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) will be held in Tehran on 17 and 18 June 2023,” foreign office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said during her weekly news briefing.
“While reviewing the progress on the implementation of decisions of the last session, the BPC will review all aspects of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations covering political, economic, trade, investment, border security, education, climate change, and cultural domains.”
The spokesperson added that during the consultations, the two neighboring states will hold discussions on regional situation, particularly in Afghanistan and Kashmir.
A discussion will also be held on the resumption of the Iran-Saudi Arabia diplomatic ties and regional peace and stability.
“The two sides will discuss progress on institutional frameworks to promote ongoing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest,” she said.
During his visit to Tehran, Pakistan’s foreign secretary, Asad Majeed Khan, will call on the Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and will also deliver a lecture at the Institute of Political and International Studies.
“[Khan] would also hold meetings with the secretary-general of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the chairman of the Pakistan-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group,” Baloch added.
The last meeting of the Iran-Pakistan bilateral political consultations was held in Islamabad in October 2021.
