Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran, arrived in Pakistan this Monday, April 22, 2024. This is the first-ever visit from the leader of any country after the February 8th Election in Pakistan. The world is focusing its attention on this visit, scheduled right after the conflict between Iran and Israel. Moreover, the same year in January, a border dispute arose between Iran and Pakistan causing tension between the two Muslim neighbors. So, everyone is interested to know what possibly could be the purpose behind this official visit. And How Iran President, Ebrahim Raisi’s 3-day visit to Pakistan is going to affect the relationship between the two neighboring states.
Iran President’s Warm WELCOME in Pakistan
The Iranian president came to Pakistan with a high-level delegation including foreign ministers, cabinet members, and some senior officials, alongside his spouse as well. He, together with his delegation arrived at the Capital city of Pakistan. At the Islamabad international airport, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Pakistan’s federal minister, and Mudassir Tipu, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, warmly welcomed them.
Security measures blocked all major highways in Islamabad that day. After visiting the Capital city of Pakistan, the Iranian president along with his delegation planned to visit the eastern city of Lahore and the southern port city of Karachi. There, the government announced a Public holiday so, as to not interrupt the travel of the Iranian delegation.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, warmly greeted Ebrahim Raisi and his delegation at the Prime Minister’s house. The Pakistan army also presented him with the Guard of Honor there. As a positive gesture to embrace Annual Earth Day, the leaders of both countries also planted a sapling.
The Iranian president also met Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister. According to the foreign office reports, during this meeting, regional and global developments were discussed. Moreover, they focused on the constructive efforts from both sides for the nation’s peace, and to overcome regional challenges.
During this visit, the Iranian head of state is scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani, and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The Iranian president also scheduled a meeting with the provincial leaders, to discuss the provincial-level development projects.
Pakistan – Iran Unstable Relations
The Pakistan-Iran border isn’t completely free of conflict. Both countries are often at odds with each other.
Especially the tension between the two neighboring countries escalated in January, when both did airstrikes against each other. The reason claimed by both Islamic states was to target the suspected militant refugees in the opposite country. But after this serious conflict, now the visit of the Iranian president to Pakistan is a positive sign, restoring the spirit of friendship between both Islamic neighbors.
Why did Ebrahim Raisi visit Pakistan?
It’s hard to define the exact purpose behind Iran President Ebrahim Raisi’s 3-day visit to Pakistan amidst the chaos in the Middle East. The Foreign Office reported that the extensive plan behind this visit is to strengthen the ties between Pakistan and Iran and to diversify the cooperation between the two neighbors involving finance, Agriculture, trade, and individual-level relationships among the nations.
Another topic, that’ll be the focus of discussion during this visit is to find the cooperative means to combat terrorism, which is the point of concern for both countries. Pakistan and Iran’s leaders share the same opinion on terrorism.
Stating Raisi’s statement, “Both countries are determined to fight against terrorism, organized crime, narcotics and different forms and manifestations of insecurity which endanger our two countries and at the same time the whole region”.
On an occasion in Lahore, Ebrahim Raisi showed his affection towards Pakistan, by saying “He didn’t feel like a stranger at all”. In addition to that, he talked about the special connections and emotions for the Pakistani people, keeping the two nations connected.
As the two countries share a common history and cultural norms, the purpose of this visit is to strengthen the bond of friendship between the two Islamic neighbors and turn this friendship into development and prosperity.
Pakistan – Iran: At Common Grounds on Gaza Ceasefire
We are very well aware of the fact that, for more than six months Israel has declared war against the people of Palestine. Where, more than 34,000 people have been killed, around 2/3rd of them are women and children. This estimation is reported by the Gaza health officials.
All the humanitarians are against this genocide. Especially Muslim countries are strongly in opposition to this brutal killing. The same goes for Iran and Pakistan.
This Gaza war is becoming one of the biggest Middle East tensions. But other than that, these Middle East tensions started to escalate when Iran launched an airstrike against Israel, about a week ago. Then Israel attacked Iran on Friday, and thus the chaos in that area increased many folds.
Iran supported their attack with a statement that the attack was a response to Israel’s strike against the Iranian diplomatic compound on 1st April, in Syria. That attack killed seven members of Iran’s elite revolutionary guards, including 2 army generals.
During Iran President, Ebrahim Raisi’s 3-day visit to Pakistan, on an occasion Raisi criticized Israel for the atrocious killing in Palestine, asking for the immediate release of Palestinian hostilities.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, admired Iran for their strong stance against the disaster in Gaza. He called for the unity of other Muslim countries to unite, and raise their voice against this brutal act of Israel. Both Muslim nations are in favor of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Iranian president assured Mutual Trade with Pakistan
Despite many mutual commercial projects, Iran and Pakistan have had some unstable relationships in the past. The apparent reason for this is the proximity of Pakistan with Saudi Arabia and the United States. Pakistan and Iran signed a gas supply deal in 2010, deciding to install a gas pipeline from Iran’s South gas field to Pakistan’s provinces of Balochistan and Sindh.
Although Pakistan’s shortage of gas is quite evident, Pakistan didn’t start the construction of the project from its side due to the fear of US sanctions. Moreover, Washington has warned Pakistan about the risk of sanctions if they do business with Tehran.
This official visit of the Iranian president has resolved many contradictions, and miscommunications between the officials of the two neighboring states.
Taking into account the current economic situation, both Muslim neighbors agreed on mutual trading of 10 billion US dollars annually, for the next 5 years.
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi said; “We are committed to strengthening relations at high levels. The present economic and trade volume between Iran and Pakistan is not acceptable at all. We have decided as a first step to increase the trade volume between our two countries to $10bn”.
This increase in trading gives hope for future development and strong relations for both countries. To emphasize the strength of the relationship between the two neighbors, Pakistan’s Prime Minister said, “We have to keep this relationship strong despite the challenges we both face.”
Conclusion
To wrap it up, we can say that despite the unstable relationship, and border conflicts between both Islamic neighbors. Their religion, historical and cultural norms connect the two nations. This 3-day official visit by the Iranian delegation to Pakistan brought development hope for both countries. Amidst the chaos in the Middle East, all countries, especially Muslim states, require a strong opinion. This visit has shown the world, the opinion of these Muslim state leaders on the Gaza-Israel war, and their strong stance on the ceasefire in Gaza.
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Reviewed By Mr.Rizwan Sajjad
