Iranian FM arrives in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian arrived in Pakistan on Sunday night. Pakistan’s envoy to Iran Muddasir Tipu and Iranian officials saw him off at Tehran’s Meharabad Airport.

Leading a high-ranking delegation, the Iranian foreign minister will meet senior Pakistani government officials to discuss security, economic and trade issues during the one-day visit, according to the IRNA correspondent who accompanied the foreign minister’s delegation. The visit takes places at the official invitation of Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani

It comes after Iran and Pakistan announced in a joint statement on January 22 that their respective ambassadors would return to their posts following tensions caused by cross-border missile strikes against hideouts of terrorists in the two countries earlier this month.

According to diplomatic sources, the visit of the Iranian foreign minister is seen as a step towards normalization of bilateral ties.

Diplomatic sources said bringing to justice the killers of nine Pakistanis in Iran will be the most important point of negotiations. They said Pakistan will reiterate its demand for immediate need to investigate the incident and hold accountable those involved in the heinous crime. Foreign ministers of Pakistan and Iran will hold a joint press stakeout after talks today.