President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran is now in Pakistan on a three-day visit to address regional and bilateral ties. This visit comes just after Iran and Israel engaged in strikes against each other, which posed a threat of the Gaza war escalating into a regional conflict.
Raisi is slated to engage in negotiations with prominent figures in Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the two neighboring countries endeavor to reconcile following reciprocal missile assaults in January.
According to local media, Raisi will also have a meeting with General Asim Munir, the leader of Pakistan’s military, who has significant political and economic power in the South Asian country.
What is the planned itinerary for the trip?
On Monday, President Ebrahim Raisi made her arrival in Islamabad, the capital city, with the objective of enhancing economic, border, and energy integration between the two neighboring countries.
“In alignment with its bordering policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to strengthen its diplomatic ties with Pakistan. During this visit, we will address a range of topics, such as economic and commercial matters, energy, and border issues, with the Pakistani government,” stated the Iranian presidential office on Monday.
In a formal declaration released on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan urged for the enhancement of bilateral relations.
According to the statement, both sides want to undertake a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing the bilateral relationships between Pakistan and Iran, while also fostering cooperation in several domains like commerce, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and interpersonal engagements.
Based on the given statement, the President Ebrahim Raisi would visit prominent cities like Lahore and Karachi, with a specific emphasis on strengthening bilateral and trade relations.
According to a written statement provided by Mosharraf Zaidi, a partner at advisory services firm Tabadlab and former adviser to the Foreign Ministry, President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit is aimed at obtaining a demonstration of support from the military leadership in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for Iran, particularly as the country finds itself in a precarious conflict with Israel.
According to Zaidi, Iran’s strategic analysts acknowledge that Pakistan is now facing an internal political crisis and a variety of economic constraints that restrict its ability to actively participate in the continuing struggle in the Middle East.
The current state of Iran-Pakistan relations is of interest.
The relationship between Iran and Pakistan has been characterized by a history of tension, with both parties blaming each other for their failure to effectively control armed organizations.
In January, there was an escalation of border tensions when Iran conducted aerial assaults over the Pakistani border, resulting in the unfortunate loss of two children’s lives. Iranian official media reported that the strike targeted two bases affiliated with the militant group Jaish al-Adl. In response, Pakistan launched a missile into Iranian territory and subsequently recalled its ambassador from Tehran.
However, the two adjacent countries decided to reduce tensions, prompting Tehran to promptly dispatch its highest-ranking official to Islamabad in order to repair relations. The two nations reached a consensus to jointly address the “threat of terrorism,” with particular emphasis on the border area. Tehran and Islamabad engaged in discussions over the mitigation of “terrorism” before Ebrahim Raisi ‘s arrival.
“During that period, Pakistan had a provisional government in operation.” “Iranians have suggested that following the establishment of the new government, there may be an opportunity to visit in order to mend the relationship and restore trust,” stated Muhammad Faisal, a PhD Scholar at the University of Technology Sydney who specializes in Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The Pakistan-Iran relationship is crucial for several reasons.
Pakistani foreign policy specialists have expressed support for the re-engagement with Iran, notwithstanding the existing border tensions.
Pakistan has tumultuous borders with both India and Afghanistan. According to Maleeha Lodhi, a seasoned Pakistani diplomat, maintaining a regular and stable relationship with Iran has been of paramount significance for Pakistan, and this remains the case even after the border tensions that occurred in January.
Islamabad and Tehran have been striving to enhance their bilateral commerce, which presently exceeds $2 billion.
Faisal informed Al Jazeera that there exists substantial illegal commerce between the two nations, encompassing the exchange of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and crude oil. According to his statement, Iran also supplies energy to the province of Balochistan and other border regions within Pakistan.
Pakistan-Iran Border: Cultural Connections, Commerce Goals, and Economic Challenges
In May 2023, the inaugural border market at the Mand-Pishin border crossing was launched by Sharif and Raisi.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that the two neighboring countries share strong cultural and religious connections, as seen by the annual pilgrimage of tens of thousands of Shia minority individuals from Pakistan to Iran.
Nevertheless, Zaidi from Tabadlab stated that despite the presence of shared cultural connections and a substantial border spanning 900km (559 miles), there has been a lack of interactions between individuals and significant commerce connections.
“However, trade predominantly occurs beyond the formal realm, and travel is limited to religious tourism,” he stated.
Prior to his departure, the President Ebrahim Raisi established a goal of $10 billion in bilateral commerce, asserting that the economic ties between the two nations do not align with their political ties. In August of the previous year, they established a bilateral trade goal of $5 billion.
The United States has imposed a series of sanctions on Tehran due to its nuclear program, resulting in the halting of a pipeline project aimed at exporting Iranian natural gas to Pakistan.
Faisal, a representative from the University of Technology Sydney, expressed the possibility of deliberating on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline within the ongoing negotiations.
What is the response of Pakistan to the tensions between Iran and Israel?
On April 14, after Iran’s military actions against Israel, the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan released a formal declaration advocating for the reduction of tensions. The statement described the incidents as “the outcomes resulting from the failure of diplomatic efforts.”
The ministry statement emphasizes the significant consequences that arise when the UN Security Council is unable to effectively carry out its duties to uphold global peace and security.
Additionally, Pakistan emphasized the imperative of global endeavors to avert additional hostilities in the area and to establish a truce in Gaza.
The current situation requires immediate attention in order to achieve stability and reinstate peace. The conclusion of the statement urges all parties to exercise the highest level of restraint.
Pakistan rejects the recognition of Israel and lacks direct means of communication with the country.
In recent years, there has been increasing speculation on the potential influence exerted by GCC countries on Pakistan, with the aim of influencing modifications to its stance regarding Palestine. Zaidi stated that there is no evidence suggesting the possibility of such a transformation.