Pezeshkian’s Visit to Islamabad Will Strengthen Iran-Pakistan Alliance: MP

Fada Hossein Maleki, the head of the Iran-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, has described President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Islamabad as a critical step toward strengthening the alliance between the two countries.

In an interview with IRNA on Monday, Maleki emphasized that the Iranian delegation's visit, led by the president, was significant due to the current international and regional circumstances. He stressed that unity among Islamic countries would enhance their ability to deter potential attacks from common adversaries.

Maleki said President Pezeshkian's meeting with Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan’s Muslim League party, in Lahore, highlighted the importance of solidarity within the Muslim world. He noted that Islamic countries can cooperate by sharing their capabilities across various fields, including science, industry, and agriculture.

Referring to the meeting between Pezeshkian and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, he said, “Iran and Pakistan share deep-rooted cultural and historical ties as neighboring countries and friends. Both sides emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral relations in various areas. This visit has further strengthened the alliance between our two countries.”

Maleki pointed to the president’s meeting with Pakistani business and trade representatives, noting that economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations. He said twelve cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visit, spanning tourism, agriculture, legal and judicial affairs, industry, science and technology, transportation and transit, cultural heritage, and economic trade. He said these initiatives are expected to boost knowledge exchange, strengthen commercial ties, and enhance regional integration.

Officials from both sides committed to increasing bilateral trade volume from the current $3 billion to $10 billion in the near future, the Iranian lawmaker added.

There was a proposal for countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Turkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other Islamic countries to unite against potential threats posed by the Israeli regime and the United States, he said.

Undoubtedly, such unity would serve as a major deterrent against regional threats, Maleki added.