Pakistan to continue efforts for lasting regional peace, assures Naqvi Momeni

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, during a meeting on Wednesday, assured his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, that Islamabad will continue its efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East.

A day earlier, Iranian President Pezeshkian arrived in Islamabad along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Eskandar Momeni. During the visit, the Iranian delegation held talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior today, the two sides discussed Pakistan-Iran relations and the latest regional situation after the peace agreement.

Congratulating Momeni on the joint communique signed in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, Naqvi said the agreement would not have been possible without the sincere efforts of the Iranian government and Momeni’s personal commitment.

“Pakistan has always sought peace and stability all over the world,” Naqvi said, adding that Islamabad will continue its efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East. He expressed hope that the peace agreement would have far-reaching positive consequences for the region.

During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in several areas, including security, counter-terrorism, cyber security and immigration.

According to a statement, Momeni thanked Pakistan for the warm reception given to the Iranian president and his delegation during their visit.

“I will soon pay a detailed visit to Pakistan, with the aim of promoting cooperation between the interior ministries of the two countries,” the Iranian interior minister said.

Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry, the Interior Minister, Additional Home Secretary, Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Commandant of the National Police Academy and Director General of the National Cyber ​​Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) were also present during the meeting.

Read: Pezeshkian praises ‘firm and honest’ Pakistani leadership for support since start of war in Islamabad visit

This was President Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan since assuming office. In recent years, the two neighbors have sought to strengthen economic ties, strengthen cross-border cooperation and increase bilateral trade. The one-day trip was Pezeshkian’s first overseas visit since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in late February.

The first round of quadrilateral talks involving Iran and the United States, with mediation by Qatar and Pakistan, concluded in Switzerland, marking the first formal follow-up commitment since the signing of the deal earlier this week.

On June 18, Prime Minister Shehbaz signed the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ as a mediator, formalizing the major diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Iran. Israel, which has been left out of the peace talks, has distanced itself from the US-Iran deal and continued to fight Hezbollah in Lebanon, also raising questions about whether the deal would last.

The US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and military leaders on the first day. It quickly developed into a regional conflict that has killed more than 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon; drove up energy prices; renewed inflationary pressures and sparked concerns about a major food supply crisis in developing countries.