Hassan Rouhani in Pakistan on two-day visit

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the military base in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Friday. Mr Rouhani is in Pakistan on a landmark visit aimed at improving ties and clinching economic deals. (Photo: AFP)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Islamabad on Friday on a landmark visit for talks with Pakistani leadership on improving relations and clinching key economic deals, including the construction of a gas pipeline.

Mr Rouhani, who is here on his maiden visit, will meet President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday and will discuss cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two-day visit has assumed significance after lifting of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. The withdrawal of sanctions has opened new avenues for enhancing bilateral economic interaction.

The Iranian leader is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials and businessmen showing his keenness to deepen the ties.

The start of construction of multi-billion dollars Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and import of 3,000 MW of electricity from Iran are on the agenda, a Pakistani official said.

“The two sides will also discuss modalities to increase trade to 5 billion dollars in the coming years,” he said.

Apart from the economic cooperation, the two sides will discuss the regional security situation, with the emphasis on Saudi-led 34-nation coalition of Sunni countries to fight against terrorism, especially ISIS.

Iran has been reportedly flustered by the move.

The tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the wake of execution of a Shia cleric by Saudi is another important issue which will be discussed.

Mr Sharif has been playing a role to defuse the tension. Officials said that the situation of Afghanistan will also be discussed.

“This visit means a lot,” said Imtiaz Gul, executive director of the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies, adding that Pakistan is still “ambivalent” about its participation in the new Saudi-led alliance.