Islamabad, March 30, IRNA — The past Iranian year 1397 which ended onMarch 20 saw major developments in Iran-Pakistan ties and the relationsbetween the two neighboring states improved in different fields.
Iran and Pakistan have been enjoying strong brotherly relations since thecreation of Pakistan way back in 1947. Since then the two countries havealways been supporting each other on world issues. The past Iranian yearwas no exception to this rule:
During the first month of the year, Farvardin, (March 21-April 20, 2018)Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) of Pakistan signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) with Iran’s Tehran University in Islamabad to promotecollaborative partnership in the educational fields.******In the same month the then Iranian cultural attaché in IslamabadShahabeddin Daraei and the then Advisor to Pakistani prime minister onnational history and literary heritage Irfan Siddiqui held a meeting andemphasized development of bilateral cultural cooperation.******In the month former Foreign Minister of Iran and Head of Strategic Councilon Foreign Relations Seyed Kamal Kharazi visited Pakistan and delivereduseful lectures at various think tanks on importance of Iran-Pakistan ties.He also met with former president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, the thengovernor of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province Muhammad Zubair and the thenPakistan’s National Security Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Nasser KhanJanjua.******During Farvardin Pakistan’s ministry for foreign affairs hosted an eventfor the first time to celebrate the Norouz Festival with activeparticipation of the embassy of Iran in Pakistan.******In the month Consulate General of Iran in Pakistan’s port city of Karachiorganized a traditional Iranian food festival with a purpose ofhighlighting the Iranian culture and to celebrate the New Iranian Year.******In the same month the then Iran’s Minister of Road and Urban DevelopmentAbbas Akhundi, heading a high-ranking delegation, paid a three-day officialvisit to Pakistan. He met senior Pakistani officials and also visitedKarachi Port Trust (KPT) to explore avenues of cooperation with Pakistan.******In Ordibehesht (April 21-May 21) the then Governor of Khorasan RazaviProvince Dr. Ali Raza Rasheedian visited Pakistan. He met with ManagingDirector, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoorto enhance cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in tourism sector.******Pakistan Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi visited Iranin Ordibehesht to represent Pakistan in the 6th Indian Ocean NavalSymposium.******In the same month Pakistan’s first-ever “Super Kabaddi League” (SKL) washeld with the presence of Iranian players.******In the month Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost met with thethen Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab Province Shahbaz Sharif anddiscussed bilateral cooperation and international political situation.******In Ordibehesht, an Iranian delegation led by chairman of National ForeignPolicy Committee Ardeshair Nourian visited Pakistan to attend a session ofdrafting committee of Speakers Conference in Islamabad.******In the same month two-day International Conference of News Agencies (ICNA)was held in Pakistan’s Islamabad. Fardin Pazouki, Director General, ForeignNews Desk at Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) led the Iranian delegationin the conference.******In Khordad (May 22- June 21), Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan MehdiHonardoost met with Chairman of Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani. Both sidesagreed to enhance parliamentary cooperation and exploit potential forincreasing economic collaboration to boost bilateral ties.******In Khordad Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the then PakistaniPresident Mamnoon Hussain met on the sidelines of 18th Shanghai CooperationOrganization (SCO) two-day summit meeting in the Chinese city of Qingdao.Rouhani during the meeting said Iran welcomes development of all-outrelations with its brotherly and friendly neighbor, Pakistan.******In the same month Pakistan Navy Sea King helicopters successfully rescuedcrew members of an Iranian boat stuck in the North Arabian Sea (NAS) due toengine failure.******During the month Iranian and Pakistani surgeons performed seven successfulliver transplants at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation(SIUT) of Pakistan in Karachi.******In Khordad Iranian Director of Asia and Pacific Center for Development ofDisaster Information Management (APDIM) visited Pakistan to attend the 6thmeeting of regional technical group of Disaster Management ConfidenceBuilding Measures (DM-CBM) of Heart of Asia, Istanbul Process in Islamabad.******In the same the then chief minister of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistanprovince Abdul Quddus Bizenjo conferred medal of excellence on IranianConsul General Mohammad Rafiee in Quetta for his efforts to enhanceIran-Pakistan ties in all fields especially the economic sector.******In Tir (June 22-July 22) Pakistan’s Under 19 volleyball team visited Tehranto participate in Asia-Pacific championship.******Former Chief of General Staff of Pakistan Lieutenant General Bilal Akbarvisited Iran in Tir and held important meetings with Iran’s Army CommanderBrigadier General Abdolkarim Mousavi and Commander of the IslamicRevolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force Mohammad Pakpour.******In the same month Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardost met withActing Chairman of Pakistani Senate Saleem Mandviwalla to discuss bilateralties.Saleem Mandviwalla on the occasion said that his country is keen to seerapid progress on the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project and thegovernment should pursue the project as it is in the interest of thecountry.******In Tir Iranian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General MohammadHossein Bagheri along with a high level delegation paid a three-day-longvisit to Pakistan.He met with Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa,the then President Mamnoon Hussain, and the then former Foreign Minister ofPakistan, Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasiand Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair MahmoodHayat.He also paid a visit to Pakistan-Afghan Torkham border to examine bordermanagement mechanism between the two countries.******In Mordad (July 23- August 22) Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan MehdiHonardoost met Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Chairman Imran Khan tocongratulate him over his party’s victory in general elections of thecountry and said that Iran desires strong multi-dimensional ties withPakistan.******In the same month President Hassan Rouhani phoned Prime Minister-designateand Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan and said thatrelations between Iran and Pakistan are beyond normal level and both sideswill spare no effort to further broaden their ties.******In Shahrivar (August 23- September 22) Iranian foreign minister MohammadJavad Zarif paid a two-day official visit to Pakistan to explore newavenues of cooperation with the new government in Pakistan. The Iranianminister was the first top foreign diplomat to visit Pakistan after the newgovernment came into power.During his tour to Pakistan, Zarif held talks with Prime Minister ImranKhan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Assembly Speaker AsadQaiser and Finance Minister Asad Umar. He also held a meeting with PakistanChief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the army headquarters.******In the same month during a meeting with Ambassador of Iran to PakistanMehdi Honardoost, Pakistan’s Minister for Finance, Revenue and EconomicAffairs (EAD) Asad Umar said Pakistan is committed to enhance economic tieswith Iran and remove the trade barriers.******In the month a three-day Health Asia International Exhibition andConference was held in Pakistan’s Karachi with Iran’s presence.******In Shahrivar Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in aphone call congratulated his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Khattak on hisappointment as the new defense minister of Pakistan. Both ministers urgedpromotion of mutual cooperation for regional stability and security.******In the month Pakistan Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources GhulamSarwar Khan said Pakistan is fully committed to implement Iran-Pakistan(IP) gas pipeline project without any foreign pressure. He said this whilespeaking to Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost who called onhim at his office in Islamabad.******In the same month Speaker of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ProvincialAssembly Mushtaq Ghani invited Iranian investors to invest in thenorthwestern province of Pakistan.He said this during a meeting with an Iranian delegation led by the ConsulGeneral of Iran in northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, Muhammad BaqirBeigi.******In Mehr Pakistan strongly condemned terrorist attack on military parade inAhvaz, Iran, which killed at least ten people and injured more than 20others.Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal in his tweet message said,’Our deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones inthis heinous attack. “Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms andmanifestations”, he said.Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser also said the Parliament andPakistani nation express complete solidarity with the people of Iran andParliament of Iran and strongly condemn the gruesome terrorist attack on amilitary parade in Ahvaz.He expressed these views in a letter written to Speaker of Parliament ofIran, Ali Larijani.******In the same month Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost met withPakistan’s Minister of Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi and discussedways to expand their bilateral cooperation in maritime affairs.******In Mehr Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan andAmbassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost met to further strengthentrade between the two countries.******In the same month three-day International Tourism Expo 2018 was held inPakistan’s Karachi with the participation of Iran.******In the month Iranian 57th naval flotilla docked at the Pakistani port ofKarachi for goodwill-cum-training visit.Captain Amir Hosseini Aranai, the commander of the Iranian flotilla in aninterview with the Islamic Republic News agency (IRNA) said the visit wasin line with great maritime tradition and to further strengthen theexisting warm and cordial relations between Iran and Pakistan.******In the Mehr (September 23- October22) Governor of Pakistan’s northwesternKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Shah Farman during a meeting with ConsulGeneral of Iran in Peshawar, Muhammad Baqir Beigi emphasized on expansionof ties with Iran in all sectors especially in economic area.******In the same month Pak-Iran trade session was held in Pakistan’ssouthwestern city of Quetta. Representatives of customs, security forcesand other officials from Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan and Pakistan’sBalochistan Provinces took part in the two-day meeting.******In the month of Aban (October 23- November 21) (Commander of the GroundForces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier GeneralMohammad Pakpour visited Pakistan to discuss with Pakistani officials thefate of abducted Iranian border guards.Earlier Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) had said terroristshad kidnapped the Iranian forces, including local Basij volunteer forcesand border guards, near the town of Mirjaveh on the Pakistani border.******Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli in a telephoneconversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shehryar Afridi in Aban soonafter the incident called for suppression of terrorists’ bastion alongIran-Pakistan borders.******In the same month Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a phoneconversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi traced thefate of the border forces of Iran.******Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also visited Pakistan in Abanto discuss border guards’ incident with Pakistan.Zarif during the visit had meetings with Prime Minister of Pakistan ImranKhan, his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Pakistan Chief ofArmy Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.******In the month Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost met withSpeaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Asad Qaiser to invite him for theSpeakers Conference on Terrorism and Regional Connectivity, which.******In the same month Pakistan Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmadduring a meeting with Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost hadsaid that railway link between Iran and Pakistan through Quetta-Taftansection is imperative for bilateral ties.Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad added that upgrading Quetta-Taftan railway wouldfurther enhance Pakistan-Iran relations. Iranian Ambassador also stressedupon importance of Quetta-Taftan section.******Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry in Abanhad also stressed the need for strengthening cultural cooperation withIran.Talking to the Iranian ambassador Mehdi Honardoost, he said culturalexchanges are not only vital for understanding each other’s values andtraditions but also instrumental to promoting people-to-people contacts.******In the month Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said thatfive abducted Iranian guards have been safely recovered with theconcentrated efforts of Pakistani law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and armedforces.******In Azar President of Payame Noor University Professor Mohammad Reza Zamanivisited Pakistan. During the visit he signed MoUs with various universitiesof Pakistan in fields of science, technology, language and literature.******In the month Iranian stall established at Pakistan’s foreign ministrycharity bazaar drew a large number of crowd due to putting on display therich Iranian culture and delicious cuisine.******In the month of Azar (November 22-December 21) the Deputy Coordinator ofthe Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari,visited Pakistan to lead an Iranian delegation at four-day 10thInternational Defense Exhibition and seminar, IDEAS 2018 in Karachi.He held important meetings with Pakistan’s top military leadership anddiscussed ways to enhance defense cooperation.******In the same month Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan at apress briefing in Islamabad in December said that his country is willing tocomplete Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project.******In Azar Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Syed AbbasAraqchi visited Pakistan to participate in the tenth round of Iran-PakistanPolitical Consultations in Islamabad.******In the same month Pakistan’s Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce metwith Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost and discussed ways toincrease bilateral trade.******Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly of Pakistan Asad Qaiser, heading aparliamentary delegation participated in the second conference of heads ofthe six countries’ parliaments to counter terrorism, in Tehran in Azar.******In the same month Pakistan hosted first Ever Global Women in MediaConference in Karachi with the presence of representative from Iran’sofficial news agency IRNA.******In Azar Pakistan hosted 13th Senior Officials Meeting of the TriangularInitiative on drug control in Islamabad.Iran’s Anti-Narcotics Police Chief Brigadier General Mohammad MasoudZahedian led the Iranian delegation in the two-day meeting.******In the month a three-day 14th Build Asia Exhibition was held in Karachi.Eight Iranian companies took part in the event held at Karachi Expo Center.******In Dey (December 22-January 20) Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah MehmoodQureshi paid an official visit to Iran. He conferred with his Iraniancounterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on bilateral ties. The Iranian andPakistani foreign ministers also discussed the latest regional andinternational developments.******In the month Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) hosted a TriangularInternational Kabaddi Series featuring kabaddi teams of Iran, Pakistan andIndia.******During outgoing year religious tourism between Iran and Pakistan witnessedunprecedented surge as during the months of Muharram and Safar this Islamicyear over 75,000 Pakistani pilgrims visited religious places in Iran.******In Dey Pakistan Ambassador to Tehran Riffat Masood said that Islamabadwanted expansion of economic and cultural relations as well as reopening ofborder markets between the two countries.Pakistan ambassador said in a meeting with member of Majlis Foreign Policyand National Security commission Morteza Saffari Natanzi.******In the same month Iranian envoy in Pakistan’s Quetta Mohammad Rafiee saidthat Iran-Pakistan free economic zone is expected to be inaugurated in thecity of Mirjaveh in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province in the coming days.He made the remarks during a meeting with the Pakistani Province ofBalochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan at his secretariat.******In Dey Iranian Consul General in Eastern Pakistani city of LahoreMohammad-Reza Nazeri called on Chief Minister Punjab Province Sardar UsmanBuzdar and exchanged views on bilateral relations.Both sides in Lahore discussed promotion of cooperation in differentfields, including trade and economy.******In the month Managing Director of Tourism Corporation of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province had said that a memorandum ofunderstanding (MOU) would be signed with Iran in near future to promotetourism and culture ties.In an exclusive interview with IRNA Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, said the bilateralrelations between the two brotherly countries in the field of culture andtourism will be improved.He added in near future Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Corporation will beholding an event in which we will invite Iran, Afghanistan and side by sideTajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan.******In Dey Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost met with PakistanChairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Zubair MahmoodHayat to discuss matters of mutual interest******During the month Pakistan Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan said thatPakistan is willing to further enhance its existing cooperation with Iranin power sector. He said this during a meeting with Ambassador of Iran toPakistan Mehdi Honardoost in Islamabad.******In Bahman (January 21- February 19) Pakistan Speaker of Pakistan’s NationalAssembly Asad Qaiser said that Islamabad wants to enhance bilateralrelations with Iran for economic and regional prosperity.Pakistan shares a bond of friendship with Iran rooted in religion andculture, Qaiser said during a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador toPakistan Mehdi Honardoost in the Pakistani capital.******During the month Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan’s interiorministry announced that Iranian businessmen can get a 30 day visa onarrival to Pakistan.******Iran’s exports to Pakistan increased by around 45 percent during first ninemonths of outgoing Iranian year (started March 21, 2018) as compared to theprevious fiscal year.According to the figures of Iranian embassy and Trade Promotion Authorityof Iran, trade between Iran and Pakistan has witnessed a considerablegrowth.******In the same month Pakistan’s Ambassador Riffat Masood after formallypresenting her credentials to the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani becamePakistan’s first woman envoy to the Islamic Republic of Iran.******In Bahman Deputy Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Qasim Khan Surisaid that Iran and Pakistan need to make collective efforts to overcomechallenges for restoration of peace at both ends of the border.The Deputy Speaker made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian ConsulGeneral Mohammad Rafiee in south western city of Quetta.******In Bahman an exhibition of Iranian calligraphy by Iranian artists was heldin Pakistan’s Islamabad to mark the 40th anniversary of the GloriousVictory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.******In the same month a Friendship Food Festival was held at the IranianCultural Centre in north western Pakistani city of Peshawar to mark the40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.******In the month Pakistan’s Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination FahmidaMirza said her country fully supports Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA) and would continue to endorse Iran’s principled stance on thisissue.“The JCPOA represents a good example of negotiated settlement of complexissues through dialogue and diplomacy,” she said.She was speaking as a chief guest at a ceremony in Islamabad to mark the40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.******In Bahman Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost stressed upon theneed for removal of trade barriers between Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan andPakistan’s Balochistan provinces to promote economic ties.He made the remarks during a meeting with Balochistan Assembly Speaker MirAbdul Quddus Bizenjo in south western city of Quetta.******In the same month a high level Pakistan delegation visited Iran to addressthe concerns of the Islamic Republic of Iran over terrorist attack nearZahedan.Meanwhile Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi urged the need forserious consultations with Pakistan to strengthen the border securitybetween the two countries.******In Bahman Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his countryrespects sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran. Talking to media hesaid that Islamabad will extend all out cooperation to Iran over the terrorattack in its Sistan-Baluchestan Province.******In Esfand (February 20-March 20) Spokesperson of the Pakistan Army saidthat Iran and Pakistan have excellent cooperation at all levels tostrengthen the security of joint border.Director General (DG) of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) MajorGeneral Asif Ghafoor said this while responding to a question of IRNA’sCorrespondent on Zahedan terror attack at a press conference with local andinternational media at army headquarters in Rawalpindi.In another major development Major General Asif Ghafoor welcomed the recentoffer by the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to helpachieving a peaceful resolution of dispute between Pakistan and India.******In the same month Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security andResearch Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan emphasized that Iran and Pakistan couldcooperate in innumerable ways and it is in their best interest to enhanceinteraction and expand trade volumes.During a meeting with Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost, theminister said: We could promote bilateral relations through tangible means– trade and business.******In Esfand Pakistan Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad visited Iranto attend the opening ceremony of Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway route.During the visit he also met with Supreme Leader of the Islamic RevolutionAyatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s advisor Ali-Akbar Velayati and IranianMinister for Roads and Urban Development Muhammad Eslami.Earlier during a meeting with Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan MehdiHonardoost he said that Quetta-Taftan-Zahedan rail track will be upgradedon fast track basis.******The most important development of the month was a phone conversationbetween Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and Pakistani Prime Minister ImranKhan.The Iranian president during conversation said, “the terrorists, who arethe instruments of other countries, should not be allowed to createdistance between Tehran and Islamabad.”The Pakistani prime minister, for his part, vowed that his country’sgovernment and army will do every effort to annihilate the terrorists andnot allow them to use the Pakistani soil against the neighboring countries,Iran in particular.******In Esfand Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour, Iranian Secretary General EconomicCooperation Organization (ECO) paid a three-day official trip to Pakistan.This was his maiden visit since he assumed responsibilities as theSecretary General ECO.During the visit the Secretary General met with Pakistani President ArifAlvi and the Prime Minister Imran Khan. He also held separate meetings withForeign Minister, Minister for Railways, Minister for Planning, Development& Reforms, Prime Minister’s Advisor for Commerce, Textile and Industry andthe Chairman Board of Investment (BOI). He also met with FederalSecretaries for Finance, Communication and Science and Technology.******In the month Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua spoke to Iran’sDeputy Foreign Minister on Political Affairs Seyed Abbas Araghchi anddiscussed issues of mutual interest.******In the same month Iran’s Tavanir delegation visited Pakistan and met withPakistan’s Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan.******During the outgoing year many classical Iranian films were screed inPakistan which attracted good number of crowd.******The outgoing year Iranian year also saw a lot of changes in Pakistan fromgeneral elections to turbulent ties with the US and India.In Tir the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) formally placed Pakistan onthe grey list due to ‘strategic deficiencies’ in its anti-money laundering.******In the month Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawazand son-in-law Safdar Awan were given prison sentences of 10, 7 and 1 yearsrespectfully on corruption charges.Later all of them were granted bail; however, Nawaz Sharif was sentenced inanother corruption case and was arrested by the police again.******In the same month a suicide bombing at a political rally of the AwamiNational Party in Peshawar left 22 people dead.******In Tir two suicide bombings, one in Bannu town and one in Mastung town,left 5 and 131 people dead respectively. The former targeted the vehicle offormer Chief Minister Akram Durrani, while the latter targeted a politicalrally of the Balochistan Awami Party.******In Mordad Pakistani general elections were held and in the result PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) under its chairman Imran Khan won the elections. Onsame day a suicide bombing at a polling station in Quetta left 31 peopledead.******In the same month Pakistan’s parliament elected Imran Khan as new primeminister after his party swept the general elections.******During the same month US cut military training program for Pakistan.******In Shahrivar Pakistani presidential election was held and Dr Arif Alvibecame new President of the country.******In the same month US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Chairman of theJoint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford visited Pakistan which was anattempt to end stalemate between Pak-US ties.******In Mehar Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi traveled to USwhere he met with US National Security Adviser (NSA) John Bolton and USSecretary of State Michael Pompeo.******In the month Pakistan and Russian armies held joint military drills showingstrengthening of ties between the two states.******In Aban US President Donald Trump’s tweet that Pakistan does not do “a damnthing” for the US drew a strong reaction from the Pakistani politicians.Prime Minister Imran Khan reacting to the tweet said the US was makingPakistan scapegoat of its failure.******During the month Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan visited China leadinga high level delegation to further improve ties between the two countriesand discuss China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).******In the same month Pakistan and India agreed to open Kartarpur corridor forthe facilitation of Sikh pilgrims. The move was welcomed internationallywhich could lead to end tensions between the two countries.******In Dey Pakistani police repelled an armed attack on the Chinese consulatein Karachi, suffering two casualties.******In the same month a suicide bombing in Orazkai District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwaprovince killed 33.******In Dey Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Muhamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visitedPakistan on a one-day visit. During his visit, he met Prime Minister ImranKhan and held delegation level talks wherein the two sides discussed thestrengthening of bilateral ties and cooperation.******In Bahman with an objective to promote tourism Pakistan governmentannounced new visa policy offering visas on arrival to visitors from 50countries and electronic visas to 175 nationalities.******In the same month Pakistan Navy hosted a five-day naval exercise organized,Aman-2019, in which 45 nations took part.******During the month a delegation of Saudi led-military alliance headed byPakistan’s former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif visited Pakistanon its first-ever visit to the country.******In Bahman Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman paid a two-day officialvisit to Pakistan. During the visit he met with countries top civil andmilitary leadership top discuss bilateral ties.******In the same month tensions between Pakistan and US decreased as Islamabadhelped to facilitate direct talks between Taliban and the US.******Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi did not participate in themeeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OCI being held in Abu Dhabiin Esfand.He said Pakistan took the decision in protest to inviting Indian ExternalAffairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as guest of honour at the inaugural sessionof the OIC conference.******In Esfand tensions between Pakistan and India reached to an alarming levelprompting the international community to ask both countries to exerciserestraint and make efforts to de-escalate tensions.Relations between Pakistan and India got tensed after a suicide bombing inIndian-Kashmir which killed over 40 Indian soldiers. New Delhi blamedPakistan of being complicit in the attack, a charge that Islamabad hasdenied vehemently.
