Pakistan, Iran sign 13 agreements to deepen bilateral cooperation

Pakistan and Iran signed 13 agreements Sunday covering ground from maritime safety to climate change cooperation, marking an expansion of ties between the neighboring Islamic nations as they navigate an increasingly volatile regional landscape.

The agreements were the centerpiece of the second day of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's state visit to Pakistan, his first since taking office. The two-day trip has focused on strengthening political and economic ties between the neighbors.

The Iranian President was received with full state honors at a formal ceremony at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif introduced him to key cabinet members including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and ministers overseeing commerce, communications, and other portfolios.

Pezeshkian and Sharif walk on a red carpet at the Prime Minister's House during the formal reception ceremony.PMO

The comprehensive package of agreements spans science and technology, information technology, tourism and cultural heritage, metrology, climate change, natural disaster management, maritime safety, fire fighting, judicial assistance, and air safety implementation building on a 2013 framework.

Most significantly for economic ties, the two countries agreed to prepare a joint statement for implementing a Free Trade Agreement, which could be a potential pathway toward their shared goal of reaching USD 10 billion in annual bilateral trade.

The Iranian president also planted a memorial sapling in the Prime Minister's House grounds, with special prayers offered for the progress and prosperity of the Islamic world.

Pezeshkian and Sharif offer prayers after the Iranian president planted a memorial sapling in the grounds of the Prime Minister's House.PMO

"Through Pakistan, Iran can connect to the Silk Road linking China and Pakistan, and the route can then extend through Iran to Europe," Pezeshkian had said before his arrival, highlighting the strategic connectivity both nations envision.

Diplomatic efforts

Beyond formal government agreements, Pezeshkian conducted extensive outreach to Pakistan's religious leadership in a series of meetings that began Saturday night.

The Iranian president met with Ayatollah Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, leader of Pakistan's Jafari community, as well as prominent religious scholars including Maulana Tahir Ashrafi and Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman. The discussions emphasized religious harmony and unity of the Muslim Ummah.

The visit comes at a pivotal moment for regional diplomacy, following recent tensions including a 12-day Iran-Israel conflict and a four-day Pakistan-India standoff, during which both countries voiced strong support for each other's sovereignty.

Pezeshkian's two-day state visit, his first to Pakistan since assuming office, concludes Sunday evening with meetings scheduled with Pakistan's military leadership and President Asif Ali Zardari.