Iranian FM arrives in Islamabad on daylong visit

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Wednesday arrived in Islamabad to hold bilateral talks with Pakistani leadership.

During his stay in the capital, he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

He will also likely to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The foreign minister’s visit comes in the wake of the kidnapping of border guards of Iran near its border with Pakistan earlier this month.

A day earlier, Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan called on FM Qureshi, according to Foreign Office spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal.

Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan called on FM at MoFA today #pakiranbrotherhood pic.twitter.com/ldkBrCJVGI

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) October 30, 2018

Lately, FM Qureshi had a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart to discuss the situation following abduction of Iranian guards near Pakistan-Iran border point of Mirjaveh.

Expressing his serious concern on the incident, Qureshi said such incidents are handiwork of common enemies unhappy with existing close and friendly relations between the two countries.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment not to allow anyone succeed in such malicious efforts.

FM Qureshi briefed the Iranian foreign minister about the active efforts launched by Pakistan law enforcement agencies to ascertain whereabouts of the missing Iranian guards, in coordination with Iranian military and intelligence counterparts.

At least fourteen Iranian security forces, including members of the Revolutionary Guards, were kidnapped on the southeastern border with Pakistan.

Jaish al-Adl, a terrorist group operating in the region, had claimed responsibility for their kidnapping. Iranian officials believe that the terrorists have transferred abductees to Pakistan.