Baghdad/Islamabad, December 22, 2025: President Asif Ali Zardari, currently on a four-day official visit to Iraq, on Monday visited several prominent religious shrines in Baghdad, where he offered prayers for peace, unity, and security of the Muslim Ummah, as Pakistan and Iraq move to further strengthen their bilateral relations.
During the visit, the president paid his respects at the revered shrines of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, Imam Musa al-Kazim, and Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al-Jawad, where he offered nawafil prayers, met shrine administrators, and recorded his remarks in the visitors’ books. He also visited the shrine of Imam Abu Hanifa, offering prayers and reflecting on the spiritual heritage of the Muslim world. According to an official statement, President Zardari described the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt as an enduring source of knowledge, patience, wisdom, and moral strength, and prayed for harmony and stability across the Muslim world.
The religious engagements coincided with high-level diplomatic interactions aimed at deepening Pakistan–Iraq ties. Earlier, President Zardari met Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid at the Baghdad Palace, where he was accorded an official welcome and guard of honour. The two leaders held one-on-one talks, followed by delegation-level discussions and a luncheon hosted by the Iraqi president, focusing on enhancing cooperation in multiple sectors.
President Zardari arrived in Baghdad earlier this week and was received by Iraq’s Minister for Culture, Dr Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani. During meetings with senior Iraqi leadership, the president emphasized that the current level of bilateral trade does not reflect the true potential of Pakistan–Iraq relations. He called for expanded cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, and defence production, while also identifying opportunities in information technology, construction, and pharmaceuticals.
The president stressed the importance of strengthening business-to-business linkages, exchanging reciprocal business delegations, and establishing direct banking channels to facilitate commercial activity. He reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to support Iraq’s reconstruction efforts through the provision of skilled and semi-skilled manpower under an existing memorandum of understanding, and highlighted Pakistan’s capabilities in medical services, financial expertise, and digital governance, including secure data management systems.
President Zardari also underscored the need for improved facilitation for Pakistani pilgrims and early finalisation of the MoU on Zaireen Management, while reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to curb illegal entry and overstay. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in combating extremism, terrorism, and narcotics trafficking, and to deepen coordination at regional and multilateral forums.
En route from Islamabad, the president conveyed a goodwill message to the Iranian leadership as his aircraft entered Iranian airspace, reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran and underscoring the importance of mutual respect and stronger regional relations.
The visit reflects Pakistan’s broader diplomatic outreach in the Middle East and its commitment to fostering closer political, economic, and people-to-people ties with Iraq.
