Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is arriving in Pakistan today (Tuesday) on an official visit at the request of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, ushering in a new phase in diplomatic engagement between the neighbouring countries.

The visit comes amid continuous high level diplomatic interaction between Islamabad and Tehran. The Iranian leader is accompanied by a senior group of ministers and senior officials.

The Foreign Office said the visit is Masoud Pezeshkian’s second journey to Pakistan as President, highlighting the continuity of dialogue between the two adjacent nations. The programme is aimed to promote extensive debates at all levels of leadership in Islamabad.

During the visit, President Pezeshkian will have formal talks with the senior leadership of Pakistan including a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari and comprehensive discussions with PM Shehbaz Sharif.

The engagement will also feature calls on the Chairman of the Senate, Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, highlighting the depth of institutional interaction planned during the visit.

Both sides are anticipated to evaluate the entire gamut of bilateral ties with special focus on enhancing cooperation in commerce, energy, border security, people-to-people interactions and regional connectivity. The talks are expected to focus on practical ways to boost business ties and allow better cross-border collaboration.

The talks will focus on the ongoing execution and follow-up of understanding established through Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Officials from the two countries are expected to review progress and decide future ways to move forward on agreed areas of cooperation.

Energy cooperation and trade facilitation is the bedrock of Pakistan-Iran relations, and both sides are eager to explore new ways to boost connectivity and economic involvement. Border security coordination is also expected to be a key topic alongside attempts to enhance cultural and social exchanges.

Besides bilateral issues, the two sides are also anticipated to exchange perspectives on important regional and international issues of mutual interest. The sessions will offer an opportunity to align opinions on developing geopolitical factors and encourage concerted approaches to regional stability.