Thu, September 17, 2026
Baghdad (Web Desk): Pakistan and Iraq on Sunday renewed their joint resolve to confront extremism, terrorism and the illegal drug trade, while agreeing to further strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas.
The understanding emerged during talks between President Asif Ali Zardari and Iraqi President Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid in Baghdad.
President Zardari arrived at the Baghdad Palace to a formal guard of honour, followed by an official reception ceremony.
The two heads of state later held a one-on-one meeting, which was followed by comprehensive discussions at the delegation level. In a gesture of goodwill, President Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid hosted a luncheon in honour of the visiting Pakistani president and his delegation.
During the interaction, President Zardari expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Iraqi leadership and people, describing Baghdad as a city of immense historical importance and a symbol of resilience and civilisation.
He congratulated Iraq on the successful completion of its parliamentary elections and conveyed his best wishes for the smooth formation of the incoming government.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s principled stance, President Zardari reiterated Islamabad’s full support for Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity.
He also underscored Pakistan’s commitment to Iraq’s long-term stability, economic progress and democratic development.
Both leaders reviewed the overall state of bilateral ties and expressed satisfaction over the positive direction of relations, noting recent high-level engagements such as the ninth meeting of the Pakistan-Iraq Joint Ministerial Commission and growing parliamentary contacts.
President Zardari observed that existing trade volumes between the two countries remain well below their true potential.
He identified broad prospects for expanding cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, defence production, information technology, construction and pharmaceuticals.
Stressing the importance of closer private-sector linkages, he advocated enhanced business-to-business interaction, exchange of commercial delegations and the establishment of direct banking arrangements to facilitate smoother trade flows.
The president also reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to assist Iraq’s reconstruction and development by providing skilled and semi-skilled workers under the existing memorandum of understanding on manpower cooperation.
He highlighted Pakistan’s expertise in healthcare services, financial management and digital governance, and conveyed Islamabad’s willingness to share technical know-how, including in secure data management, to help strengthen Iraq’s institutional capacity.
Addressing issues related to religious travel, President Zardari called for improved facilitation for Pakistani pilgrims visiting Iraq and expressed hope for the early finalisation and implementation of the proposed memorandum of understanding on Zaireen Management.
He said the agreement would help ensure organised travel and resolve longstanding challenges faced by pilgrims. He also assured close cooperation with Iraqi authorities to prevent illegal entry and overstaying by Pakistani nationals in violation of Iraqi laws.
The two leaders reaffirmed their determination to further deepen bilateral cooperation across political, economic and social sectors.
They agreed to maintain close coordination at regional and international forums, including the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on issues of shared interest.
President Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, in turn, acknowledged Pakistan’s role in promoting unity within the Muslim world and appreciated its historic support for the Palestinian cause.
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