Iranian President Pezeshkian, FM Araghchi arrive in Pakistan

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Pezeshkian is on an official visit to Pakistan at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation.

The two Iranian leaders arrived in Islamabad in separate planes. Pezeshkian flew to the federal capital from Iran, while Araghchi’s last engagement was in Oman.

President Pezeshkian, upon arrival, was received by President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Shehbaz, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Iran’s envoy to Islamabad Reza Amiri Moghaddam.

Iran FM Araghchi, who was earlier welcomed by Dar, Naqvi and Bilawal at the Nur Khan airbase, was also present at his president’s arrival, according to televised footage.*

“The leadership and people of Pakistan extend a warm welcome to Foreign Minister Araghchi and the Iranian delegation to Islamabad,” the Foreign Office said (FO).

Both sides to review ‘full spectrum’ of bilateral relations

During the visit, Pezeshkian will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold talks with PM Shehbaz, according to the FO.

Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Deputy PM Dar will call on the visiting dignitary.

“This will be Dr Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan in his capacity as president of Iran,” the FO said.

It said the visit would provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchanges and regional connectivity.

It also termed the visit an “important opportunity to discuss ongoing diplomatic engagements following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest”.

“The forthcoming visit reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Iran to further deepen their historic and cultural ties and underscores their common aspiration for peace, stability, and sustainable progress in the region,” the FO added.

IHC, FCC cancel judicial work; govt tells Red Zone employees to work from home

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) also cancelled judicial work for Tuesday, due to the closure of the Red Zone for the Iranian president’s visit. A notification issued by the IHC said that Tuesday’s cause list had been cancelled, adding that officials were directed to work from home.

However, it added that district courts would function as per routine.

Similarly, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) also announced the suspension of judicial work at its principal seat in Islamabad due to the closure of the Red Zone in Islamabad.

“Consequently, the cause list of the Court stands cancelled. However, all officers and staff shall work from home and shall not leave the station. Besides, all four branch registries of the court shall remain open for judicial and administrative work,” the notification said.

Separately, the federal government issued a notification implementing a one-day “work from home” directive for various ministries.

According to a notification issued by Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, employees of ministries, divisions, and government offices located inside Islamabad’s Red Zone will work remotely. Furthermore, autonomous bodies and attached departments operating within the Red Zone will observe a full holiday.

However, essential federal institutions and banks were exempted from this order. These included the Prime Minister’s Office, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, the Federal Board of Revenue, and the ministries of foreign affairs, interior, commerce, industries, law, parliamentary affairs, and planning division, alongside all federal banking institutions.

Bus stands closed

All bus terminals operating in the capital were closed on Monday night as a security measure in view of the arrival of the Iranian president.

Officials of the capital administration and police said that the capital police, under directives from the capital administration, approached the managements of bus terminals in the capital, including those at Faizabad and Chongi No 26, and asked them to shut down their operations before midnight.

The managers were further asked to suspend their operations on Tuesday. The terminals will remain closed until the departure of the Iranian president. Besides, the Islamabad Red Zone has also been sealed as a security measure. Entry will be allowed only to concerned officials.

Further, Islamabad District Magistrate Irfan Nawaz Memon ordered the immediate closure of all popular hiking routes in the city.

The restriction applies to Trail 2, Trail 3, Trail 4, Trail 5, and the hiking tracks located behind Saidpur Village, remaining effective from Tuesday until further notice.

US-Iran talks in Switzerland

Pezeshkian’s visit follows key direct talks — dubbed the “Lake Lucerne Summit” — held between the United States and Iran in Switzerland, kicking off negotiations under the Islamabad MoU signed on June 18.

Under the 14-point accord, Washington and Tehran agreed on a framework to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate on key issues within 60 days of the signing.

The US-Iran talks in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock were mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir representing Pakistan.

The Lake Lucerne Summit created a mechanism for further technical talks, which will continue this week, and also set up communication lines to end the fighting in Lebanon and to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz open.

“Encouraging progress has been made,” the mediators said in their joint statement, including a contact channel set up to “avoid incidents and miscommunication” in the Strait of Hormuz.

A “de-confliction cell” between the parties and the Lebanese authorities has also been agreed upon to prevent fighting from erupting again.

Additional input from APP ...