ABU DHABI, APR 20 (DNA) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday concluded his three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and left for Iran, where he would be discussing the regional situation with the Iranian leadership.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi was seen off at Abu Dhabi airport by Ambassador Afzal Mahmood and senior officials of foreign ministry.
The foreign minister was seen off by senior foreign ministry officials of the UAE, and Ambassador Afzal Mahmood and senior embassy officials of Pakistan in the at Abu Dhabi airport.
In a video statement prior his departure from Untied Arab Emirates to Iran on Tuesday, shedding light on Iran’s visit, Shah Mahmood Qureshi lauded his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and said that he had visited Pakistan on multiple occasions to discuss key issues between the two countries.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that being the neighbor of Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process is also important for Iran just like Pakistan. He thanked the Iranian leadership’s categorical stance on Kashmir dispute.
“We will be discussing the regional situation with the Iranian leadership,” he said while sharing that new developments have been made in the Afghan peace process, which is important to both Pakistan and Iran.
The visit will help in understanding the Iranian position on the peace process and devising a joint strategy in this regard, he said.
The foreign minister lauded the supreme leadership of Iran for their clear stance and support towards the Kashmir issue and said that the neighbouring brotherly country had always supported Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue.
He further said that discussion would also be made on improving bilateral ties between the two countries. “Pakistan has suggested the establishment of border markets which also got a welcome response from the Iranian side,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi said adding that both countries have supported each other in testing times and would further try to strengthen relations between the two countries.
He termed Iran not only Pakistan’s neighbour, but a “tested friend” and expressed desire to strengthen ties in all areas.
During the visit, the Foreign Minister will hold delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Zarif. He will call on President Dr. Hassan Rouhani and Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
The Foreign Minister will also visit the city of Mashhad.
During the delegation-level talks, the two Foreign Ministers will review bilateral relations with a view to further deepening cooperation in diverse fields. The two sides will discuss regional security situation including the latest developments in the Afghan Peace Process and the Jammu & Kashmir dispute.
They will also deliberate on strengthening regional cooperation under the umbrella of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Foreign Minister Qureshi’s visit to Iran is part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Zarif visited Pakistan in November 2020 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Qureshi, while the two Foreign Ministers met on 30 March 2021 on the sidelines of 9th session of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Foreign Minister Qureshi last visited Iran in January 2020. = DNA
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