It will be his first foreign trip in the wake of tensions between Iran and Israel. On Saturday, Iran launched drones to attack Israel. Ebrahim Raisi is the first foreign head of state/government who will visit Pakistan after Shehbaz Sharif took charge as the prime minister last month.
Iran Embassy sources told The News Sunday evening that the schedule of the visit is yet to be announced officially by Islamabad and Tehran but President Ebrahim Raisi’s plan of visiting Islamabad is final. The Foreign Office has also confirmed the visit.
Raisi was the first to felicitate Shehbaz Sharif on assuming the office.
The recent developments and regional security situation would figure prominently in the talks between President Raisi and Prime Minister Shehbaz. President Asif Ali Zardari will host a banquet in honor of the visiting president.
The visit is part of ongoing efforts by the two countries to deepen their cooperation which received a temporary setback in January’s missile exchanges.
The sources said the agenda of President Raisi includes bilateral ties, security cooperation, a gas pipeline, and a potential free trade agreement (FTA).
Both sides during the visit of the Iranian president would discuss regional and international issues, including the Afghanistan situation and Palestinian issues.