Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif begins a crucial two-day visit to Iran from today.
Prime Minister Sharif would meet Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Rouhani. The visit is seen as an attempt to reverse the downward trajectory in ties.
Relations between Pakistan and Iran have been downward spiril since PML-N came to power last year. Suspension of work on gas pipeline, border incidents and growing closeness with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are been touted as the reasons behind the growing mistrust.
“The prime minister’s visit to Iran would not only provide a political affirmation to our bilateral relations but would also set a forward trajectory for their future course,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Prime Minister Sharif had at an envoys’ conference on Middle and Gulf last week clarified that “efforts to develop bilateral ties with one country are not, and will not be, at the expense of another”.
He was implied to be referring to the delicate balance that Pakistan has to strike in ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran.
“In this context, the existing potential of bilateral trade would be reinforced through initiatives aimed at enhancing physical connectivity between the sides,” the statement said.
Mr Sharif is being accompanied by Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Khaqan Abbasi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik.
