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OPINION MAY 17, 2024 | The Indian Eye 8

The importance of

Iranian President Raisi’s

three-day visit to Pakistan

Pakistani leadership expected that President Raisi will put the issue of the Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline

on the table for discussion. Pakistan after setting multiple deadlines from 2010 have failed to initiate the
project fearing US sanctions as well as due to internal political and economic instability, originally slated

for completion in December 2014, whereas Iran has completed its part of the project

DR. DHRUBAJYOTI BHATTACHARJEE

he President of Iran, Dr
Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, made
Ta three-day visit to Pakistan
along with a delegation of his cabinet
ministers and business persons from
April 22 – 24, 2024. During the visit
President Raisi met President Asif
Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
and the Chief of Staff of the Pakistan
Army, Asim Munir. He also met with
the Senate chairman and the Nation-
al Assembly speaker. He also visited
the cities of Karachi and Lahore to
meet the country’s provincial leader-
ship.
This maiden visit of President
Raisi to Pakistan after the election
of the Pakistani Prime Minister She-
hbaz Sharif to power remain signif-
icant. In the month of January this
year, Iran had targeted Jaish ul-Adl
terrorist group, 50kms within Pa-
kistani territory in the province of
Balochistan by missiles and drones. During the visit, while meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the two sides signed eight agreements and Memorandum of Understandings
In retaliation, Pakistan conducted (MoUs) on a wide range of subjects including on security, judicial assistance and the establishment of a special economic zone (Agency photo)
military strikes, targeting alleged Ba-
loch militants (the Baloch Liberation
Front) in the city of Saravan in Iran. assistance and the establishment of create and bring about welfare for and prosperity which will further
Both the countries resisted from ag- a special economic zone (the Rim- the people residing in border areas lead to economic progress and con-
gravating the situation any further. dan-Gabd Joint Free/Special Zone). and regions. nectivity.
This was the first foreign trip made Both Iran and Pakistan share a Presently, Iran and Pakistan However, the US State Depart-
by the Iranian President after such porous border of more than 900 kms, have a trade volume of US$ 2 billion, ment stated in a press briefing on
attacks had elevated the level of ten- which is infamous for smuggling, il- which was described as ‘unaccept- April 24, that countries doing busi-
sion between the two countries. legal trade and other menaces. The able’ to President Raisi. He stated ness with Iran faced the “potential
During the visit, while meeting leaderships stated that they were that in the forthcoming five years or risk of sanctions”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the committed to combating terrorism, the first phase, both the countries Prime Minister Sharif reiterat-
two sides signed eight agreements organized crime, narcotics, and var- will enhance trade to US$10 billion. ed Pakistan’s position with regard
and Memorandum of Understand- ious forms of insecurity. President Prime Minister Sharif stated that the to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He
ings (MoUs) on a wide range of sub- Raisi stressed the need to use the friendship between the two countries commended Iran’s stand against Is-
jects including on security, judicial shared border as an opportunity to should act as a catalyst for progress Continued on next page... >>

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