Pakistan PM, Army Chief Meet Iranian Interior Minister as Islamabad Pushes Regional Diplomacy

ISLAMABAD (Terror Monitor) — Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni held separate meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Tuesday, with both sides discussing bilateral relations, regional security, border cooperation, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East.

According to a statement from Pakistan's Prime Minister's Office, the meeting with Shehbaz Sharif was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and other senior officials.

Prime Minister Sharif expressed concern over the recent escalation in the region and urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further destabilize the Middle East. He reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to serving as an "honest and sincere mediator and facilitator" for regional peace.

Momeni conveyed greetings from Iran's leadership and thanked Pakistan for its hospitality, saying his visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He also praised the diplomatic efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, which led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

According to the Associated Press, Momeni also met with Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss regional security and ongoing diplomatic initiatives. The visit comes as Pakistan continues efforts to revive the suspended interim understanding between Iran and the United States reached earlier this year.

Momeni arrived in Islamabad at the invitation of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, leading a high-level delegation that includes officials from Iran's Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, Customs Administration, and law enforcement agencies.

During the visit, both countries are expected to hold talks on expanding trade, border management, transit cooperation, customs coordination, and agricultural ties. Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian has directed officials to increase annual bilateral trade with Pakistan from $3 billion to $10 billion.

The visit comes as Iran and the United States continue exchanging military strikes for a tenth consecutive day. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains open to negotiations with Tehran but insisted any talks must be "serious." The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) also announced it had struck Iranian military command centers, naval assets, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems.