Pezeshkian leaves Islamabad after geopolitical, trade talks

ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian left Islamabad on Sunday after a two-day visit that saw him having talks with the Pakistani leadership on a wide range of issues — ranging from terrorism and trade — as Iran tries to reassert itself after experiencing Israeli aggression and the US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

As he flew back to Tehran, the Iranian president said, “A new chapter in diplomatic relations between Iran and Pakistan has begun.”

اولین سفرم به کشور دوست وبرادر پاکستان را در میان استقبال گرم مقامات ارشد این کشور به پایان رساندم از رئیس جمهور محترم جناب آصف علی زرداری و برادر گرانقدرم شهباز شریف و سایر مقامات سیاسی و نظامی پاکستان قدردانی می‌کنم فصل نوینی از روابط دیپلماتیک میان ایران و پاکستان آغاز شده است

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) August 3, 2025

REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

The highlight of the visit, however, remains the pledge two sides made regarding removing trade barriers that have hampered bilateral trade.

It is the reason why Pakistan and Iran discussed the possibilities like special economic zones, with Pezeshkian talking about developing land and sea routes for regional connectivity.

Meanwhile, the common goal of regional connectivity brings Beijing into the equation too, whose brainchild Road and Belt Initiative (BRI) led to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), though the venture hasn’t seen its potential fully realised yet.

During the meetings, Pakistan praised Iran for the way it challenged Israel and made it clear that pursuing a peaceful nuclear was a right that could not b e denied.

On the other hand, Pakistan and Iran also a common ground in counterterrorism efforts. The reason is simple. Both nations are fighting the scourge of terrorism albeit the characters involved vary.

At the same time, the two sides said that diplomacy should be sole focus to solve and stop the spread of regional and global disputes.

WHY TRADE!

As Pezeshkian met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan and Iran decided to propel the Pakistan-Iran trade volume to $10 billion annually.

Earlier, Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam had said Pezeshkian will sign multiple trade deals during his visit to Pakistan.

The result was obvious after the two countries 12 agreements and MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding), with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar promising to fully execute these documents.

Moghadam had said there was no trade issue between Iran and Pakistan which could not be resolved.

He even said that Any progress in Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline — a project hit hard by the US sanctions — would be made according to the interests of the two countries.

Obviously, Iran has been hit hard by US sanctions and wants to get some relief, while using the available options.

Similarly, Pakistan lies in South Asia — one of the least integrated regions of the world. An unstable Afghanistan is also making it impossible to explore economic opportunities in the landlocked Central Asian Republics.

In fact, regional connectivity requires a peaceful and stable Afghanistan which does not host terrorist organisation.

Meanwhile, uncertainty has gripped the world thanks to the Trump tariffs — a showpiece strategy of US President Donald Trump.

Before arriving in Islamabad, Pezeshkian landed in Lahore where three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his political scion Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz greeted him at the airport. Allama Iqbal was the reason behind this choice, as the Iranian president wanted to pay homage to the great poet.