ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi paid a courtesy call on the President of Iran Syed Ibrahim Raisi in Tehran.
Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tehran, Rahim Hayat Qureshi and senior officials accompanied the Foreign Minister.
The foreign minister conveyed greetings from leadership and said that Pakistan attached high importance to its bilateral relations with Iran, based on geographic proximity, common border and shared objectives of peace and development. He added that the bilateral relations had been further strengthened due to recent high-level engagements.
Foreign Minister Qureshi thanked President Raisi for Iran’s consistent support on the Kashmir issue, especially from Supreme Leader. “The people of Kashmir looked towards Iran’s steadfast support in their just struggle,” he said.
The foreign minister briefed President Raisi on Pakistan’s efforts to help achieve stability in Afghanistan. Given the precarious economic situation in Afghanistan, he called for sustained engagement and urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghans by the international community.
He added that it was important for Afghanistan’s neighbours to have continued consultations for a regional approach as peace in Afghanistan would lead to stability, economic development, and regional connectivity.
President Raisi welcomed the foreign minister and conveyed best wishes for Prime Imran Khan. He underlined the need for continued enhanced engagement between the two countries to further promote bilateral relations and advance shared objectives of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s invitation to President Raisi for a visit to Pakistan. President Raisi thanked for the invitation and said that he looked forward to visiting Pakistan on a mutually convenient date.
Engagement with Afghanistan
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov in Tehran and agreed to remain in close contact mutually in view of the emerging situation in Afghanistan. Qureshi said close coordination among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan would help bring peace and stability in
He said Afghanistan is facing a financial crisis; and keeping in view this critical situation, the international community should ensure humanitarian assistance to Afghans. The Uzbek Foreign Minister stressed the need for continuity in contacts to achieve stability and avert economic collapse in Afghanistan.
While speaking to his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin in Tehran, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan is taking concrete steps to ensure humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan through air and land transit.
He stressed the need to help Afghan brethren at this hour of need. They agreed that peace in Afghanistan is essential for the promotion of regional connectivity and stability.
Talking to Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Tehran today, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said implementation of different energy projects, including TAPI, would bring prosperity to the region. He said Pakistan desires to further strengthen relations with brotherly country Turkmenistan in all areas of mutual interest.
Both agreed to continue close contact between the two countries for further strengthening of bilateral relations. The Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister thanked Shah Mahmood Qureshi for taking the first step in the formation of a regional perspective.
