Pakistan Seeks Deeper Bangladesh, Iran Ties at UNGA
Shehbaz Sharif met Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the UNGA, discussing bilateral cooperation, regional coordination and de-escalation.
Pakistan is seeking to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh and Iran following separate meetings between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
During his meeting with Rahman, Sharif said both sides agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The leaders also discussed coordination on regional and global issues through multilateral platforms. Tarique Rahman is attending the UNGA as Bangladesh's prime minister and delivered his first address to the General Assembly on September 24.
Sharif's discussions with Pezeshkian focused on Pakistan-Iran relations and the wider regional situation. The Pakistani prime minister stressed the need for restraint, de-escalation and continued diplomacy, while both sides expressed support for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Sharif also highlighted the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with Pezeshkian indicating that the agreement remained acceptable to Iran and could be taken forward. Pakistan has presented itself as a diplomatic intermediary in efforts linked to the agreement.
The meetings reflect Islamabad's efforts to expand regional partnerships while emphasising diplomacy and coordination amid ongoing tensions. At the UNGA, diplomacy is clearly getting a very busy calendar.
