IRANIAN President Ebrahim Raisi visited Pakistan just a few months after both nations exchanged cross-border strikes in January.
Raisi’s three-day trip to Pakistan started on Monday.
The Iranian leader held talks with Pakistani leader Shehbaz Sharif in the capital Islamabad.
This is the first time both leaders met since the two neighboring nations exchanged cross-border strikes in January which killed nine civilians in Iran and two in Pakistan.
Both sides also witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding in different fields.
Raisi said he and his Pakistani counterpart agreed to improve relations in political, economic, commercial, and cultural fields.
Both countries also acknowledged similar positions in fighting terrorism, drugs, and stronger border security, with many Iranian security forces subjected to terrorist attacks by Pakistan-based militants.
The government of Pakistan deployed additional troops and security forces to ensure Raisi’s safety amid increasing militant attacks in the region.
A multi-billion gas pipeline project, which has been opposed by Washington and postponed since 2014, will also be discussed before Raisi ends his three-day diplomatic tour.
The Iranian leader said the bilateral visit is an opportunity to mend fractured ties between the two Muslim neighbors since the deadly cross-border strikes happened earlier this year.
