Iranian President Invites Pakistani Prime Minister to ECO Summit in Tehran
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invited Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to participate in the forthcoming Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit, slated for December 2026 in Tehran. This invitation was conveyed during a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan’s office announced the meeting via a social media post on X, detailing that the Pakistan-Iran leaders’ discussion occurred during the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Masoud Pezeshkian engaged in talks in Bishkek. Attendees from the Pakistani side included Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Deputy Foreign Minister Amna Baloch. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other high-ranking officials were also present.
The statement highlighted that the meeting, conducted in a warm and cordial atmosphere, saw both senior officials reaffirm the deep-rooted ties between their nations. They emphasized the imperative to further strengthen bilateral relations across all areas of mutual cooperation, aligning with decisions made during President Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan in June of this year. Discussions also encompassed ongoing efforts to enhance regional connectivity and people-to-people linkages, along with an exchange of views on regional developments and conditions.
The Pakistani Prime Minister’s office further noted that Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s sincere efforts towards establishing regional peace, pointing to the constructive interactions during the recent visit of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to Tehran as promising for progress. He stressed the significance of restraint and continued diplomatic engagement for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. Sharif also underscored the need to leverage understandings reached within the framework of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,’ describing them as the only practical and suitable path to sustainable regional peace. President Pezeshkian, in turn, acknowledged Pakistan’s consistent diplomatic endeavors for regional peace and security. He also affirmed the enduring strength of Iran-Pakistan relations, rooted in centuries of shared history, culture, and beliefs, and expressed Tehran’s strong desire to deepen cooperation across a broad spectrum of fields. Pezeshkian emphasized the necessity of unity within the Islamic ummah to confront current challenges.
The Pakistani Prime Minister’s office concluded by stating that Prime Minister Sharif extended a formal invitation to President Pezeshkian for an official visit to Pakistan at the earliest convenience. President Pezeshkian reciprocated by inviting the Prime Minister to attend the upcoming ECO summit in Tehran.
