ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan is primarily aimed at expressing gratitude for Islamabad’s efforts to help de-escalate tensions in the region and support a peaceful resolution to recent conflicts.
During his trip, he has held meetings with Pakistan’s political leadership as well as senior military officials, thanking them for their role in promoting dialogue and stability.
Beyond discussions on regional peace, the visit is also focused on strengthening bilateral relations. A trade delegation accompanying the Iranian president is expected to explore new opportunities for expanding economic cooperation and increasing trade between the two neighbouring countries.
Energy cooperation is another key topic on the agenda. Pakistan hopes that the recent US waiver allowing the export of Iranian gas and oil could pave the way for reviving the long-delayed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. The pipeline, constructed by Iran in 2011 at a cost of approximately $2 billion, stretches around 1,150 kilometres.
Pakistan, however, was unable to complete its portion of the project due to US sanctions imposed on Iran, which hindered progress on the pipeline despite its potential significance for the country’s energy needs.