Baghdad : President Asif Ali Zardari, currently in Iraq on a four-day official trip, paid visits to several revered religious shrines in Baghdad, where he offered prayers for peace, harmony and security across the Muslim Ummah.
The visit reflects a blend of spiritual engagement and diplomatic outreach as Pakistan and Iraq look to broaden cooperation in multiple fields.
During his stay in the Iraqi capital, the president visited the shrines of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, Imam Musa al-Kazim and Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al-Jawad. He offered nawafil at these sites, interacted with shrine administrators and penned his reflections in the visitors’ books. He also visited the shrine of Imam Abu Hanifa, where he offered prayers.
According to an official statement, President Zardari highlighted the enduring teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, describing them as a timeless source of wisdom, patience, moral strength and guidance. He prayed for stability, tolerance and unity throughout the Muslim world.
Alongside the religious activities, the visit included key diplomatic engagements. Earlier, President Zardari held talks with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid at Baghdad Palace, where he received an official welcome, including a guard of honour. The two leaders met privately before leading delegation-level discussions, followed by a luncheon hosted by the Iraqi president.
President Zardari arrived in Baghdad earlier this week and was welcomed by Iraq’s Minister for Culture, Dr Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani. His visit includes meetings with senior Iraqi officials aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new avenues of cooperation.
During discussions, President Zardari noted that current trade volumes between Pakistan and Iraq fall short of their true potential. He called for enhanced collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture and defense production, while also pointing to opportunities in sectors such as information technology, construction and pharmaceuticals.
He emphasized the importance of stronger business-to-business contacts, exchange of trade delegations and the establishment of direct banking channels to ease commercial transactions. The president reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to contribute to Iraq’s reconstruction by providing skilled and semi-skilled manpower under an existing memorandum of understanding, and highlighted Pakistan’s strengths in healthcare, financial services and digital governance, including secure data systems.
The president also sought improved facilities for Pakistani pilgrims and early completion of the MoU on Zaireen Management, while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to preventing illegal entry and overstays. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in combating extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking, and to enhance coordination at regional and multilateral forums. En route from Islamabad, President Zardari also sent a goodwill message to the Iranian leadership as his aircraft passed through Iranian airspace, reaffirming solidarity with Iran and underscoring the importance of mutual respect and stronger regional
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
