Zardari visits shrines in Baghdad, meets Iraqi leadership

President Asif Ali Zardari, who is on a four-day official visit to Iraq, visited prominent religious shrines in Baghdad on Monday and prayed for peace, unity and security in the Muslim Ummah as Islamabad and Baghdad seek to deepen bilateral cooperation.

During the visit, the President paid respects at the shrines of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, Imam Musa al-Kazim and Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al-Jawad, where he offered nawafil, met the shrine administrators and recorded his remarks in the visitors’ books. He also visited the shrine of Imam Abu Hanifa and offered prayers.

Read: Zardari arrives in Baghdad on official visit

According to an official statement, President Zardari described the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt as an eternal source of knowledge, patience, wisdom and moral strength and prayed for harmony and stability throughout the Muslim world.

The religious engagements came alongside high-level diplomatic meetings. Earlier, President Zardari met Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid at the Baghdad Palace where he was accorded an official welcome and guard of honour. The two leaders held one-on-one talks, followed by delegation-level discussions and a lunch hosted by the Iraqi president.

President Zardari arrived in Baghdad earlier this week and was received by Iraq’s Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani. During the visit, meetings with senior Iraqi leadership are expected to promote cooperation and further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Iraq.

During his meetings with the officials, President Zardari clarified that the existing levels of bilateral trade did not reflect the true potential of Pakistan-Iraq relations and called for expanded cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture and defense production, while identifying opportunities in information technology, construction and pharmaceuticals.

He stressed the need for stronger business-to-business linkages, mutual business delegations and establishment of direct banking channels to facilitate commercial activity. The President reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to support Iraq’s reconstruction through the provision of skilled and semi-skilled labor under an existing MoU, highlighting Pakistan’s capabilities in medical services, financial expertise and digital governance, including secure data management.

Read more: Pakistan, Iraq pledge stronger bilateral cooperation

He also sought improved relief for Pakistani pilgrims and early completion of the Memorandum of Understanding on Zaireen Management, while reaffirming Pakistan’s determination to curb illegal entry and overstaying. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation against extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking and to deepen coordination in regional and multilateral forums.

On his way from Islamabad, the president also conveyed a goodwill message to the Iranian leadership as his plane entered Iranian airspace, reaffirming solidarity with Iran and stressing mutual respect and the importance of stronger regional ties.