President Zardari and President Raisi Strengthen Bilateral Ties

President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan recently held a phone conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Iran across various areas of mutual interest. President Zardari emphasized the importance of enhancing information exchange to address shared security challenges effectively.

During the call, President Zardari extended Eidul Fitr greetings to President Raisi and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the Iranian leadership and families affected by the Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus. He expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis and atrocities in Gaza, urging an immediate ceasefire.

President Zardari invited President Raisi to visit Pakistan, with the latter expected to undertake an official visit in the third week of April. This visit aims to strengthen ties and build trust following tensions earlier in the year when both countries exchanged missiles in January.

In January, Iran launched missile strikes in Balochistan, which Pakistan denied as targeting terrorists, leading to retaliatory strikes. However, swift diplomatic efforts helped de-escalate tensions, with both nations agreeing to restore diplomatic relations and establish new terms of engagement to prevent future escalations.