Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday. The two leaders held discussions in a warm and cordial atmosphere, reaffirming the longstanding and close relations between Pakistan and Iran.
They emphasised the need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest and agreed on the importance of deepening ties between the two neighbouring countries. The two leaders also stressed the need to implement the decisions reached during President Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan in June this year.
They reviewed ongoing efforts to strengthen regional ties and promote people-to-people contacts, while also discussing the latest developments in the regional situation. Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan would continue making sincere efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. He expressed hope that Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s recent visit to Tehran and his constructive engagement would produce positive results.
The prime minister emphasised the importance of patience, restraint and sustained diplomatic engagement in achieving lasting peace and stability. He also stressed the need to build on the understanding reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing it as the only viable path towards lasting peace in the region. President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan’s continued diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and security.
Highlighting the enduring strength of Pakistan-Iran relations, the Iranian president said the ties between the two countries were rooted in centuries-old shared history, culture and religion. He reiterated Iran’s strong desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan in various fields. President Pezeshkian also stressed the importance of promoting unity and solidarity among the Muslim Ummah to address the challenges facing the Muslim world.
Prime Minister Shehbaz invited President Pezeshkian to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience. In return, the Iranian president invited the prime minister to attend the upcoming Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit, scheduled to be held in Tehran in December 2026. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials were also present.
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