ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, Tuesday, reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support for Iran’s peace, stability, national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and said Pakistan had consistently opposed one-sided initiatives and supported dialogue and diplomacy as the means to achieve a durable and sustainable solution to regional and global challenges.
He also underscored Pakistan’s commitment to preserving the unity of the Muslim Ummah while maintaining strong fraternal relations with the countries of the Gulf region.
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian met President Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Secretariat Media Wing said in a press release.
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, mainly regional peace and security, bilateral and regional connectivity, economic cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.
The Iranian president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Chief of the President’s Office Mohsen Haji Mirzaei, Minister of Interior Eskandar Momeni, Saeed Abbas Mousavi Chief of Political Affairs of President’s Office and Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam.
From the Pakistani side Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, ex-Foreign Minister, Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Chief Whip Senate Senator Saleem Mandviwala and Dr. Asim Hussain were present during the meeting.
President Zardari welcomed President Pezeshkian on his first state visit to Pakistan after the recent conflict and noted that the visit reflected the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries and a desire to stay together in good and bad times.
He congratulated President Pezeshkian on the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and expressed the hope that the ongoing technical-level negotiations would culminate in permanent peace in the region.
President Zardari once again expressed condolences on the martyrdom of Ali Hosseini Khamenei and said that Pakistan would participate in his funeral.
President Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for its positive and constructive efforts in support of peace and dialogue and appreciated the support extended by Pakistan during recent challenging circumstances.
He said Iran attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and looks forward to further expanding cooperation in political, economic, security and regional matters.
President Zardari requested President Pezeshkian to convey his warm regards to Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.