Islamabad/Tehran, Apr 22 (EFE).- Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a three-day visit to improve bilateral relations after the two countries launched airstrikes in each other’s territory in January.
The visit comes amid an escalation of tensions in the Middle East, especially after Iran’s recent attack on Israel.
“Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrives in Islamabad on a 3 day visit. He was accorded a warm welcome at Islamabad Airport,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement.
Raisi, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation, is expected to meet Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also visit the cities of Lahore and Karachi, according to the ministry.
Before departing for Islamabad, Raisi said that Iran was interested in improving relations with Pakistan in line with neighborhood policy and developing relations with Islamic and neighboring countries.
He stressed that several issues, including economy, trade, energy and the border, would be discussed with the Pakistani government.
The Iranian president hoped to boost commercial and economic exchanges between both countries, considering that they were not at the level of political cooperation.
Raisi also highlighted the good understanding between Iran and Pakistan on the defense of the people of Gaza and Palestine.
Bilateral relations between the neighboring countries were damaged by the exchange of cross-border bombings.
On Jan. 16, Iran claimed to have bombed the facilities of the Sunni group, Jaish ul-Adl, which it considers a terrorist organization, in Pakistan.
Islamabad said that two children died in the Iranian attack and recalled its ambassador in Tehran for consultations.
Two days later, the Pakistani army claimed responsibility for several attacks against the alleged hideouts of two Pakistani separatist groups in Iran, claiming to have killed 10 Pakistani nationals.
Raisi’s trip to Pakistan also coincides with heightened tensions in the Middle East after Iran attacked Israeli territory on Apr. 13 with more than 300 drones and missiles in retaliation for a bombing on its consulate in Damascus earlier in the month, attributed to Tel Aviv. EFE
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