President Asif Ali Zardari, Sunday, reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm support for Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity, and reiterated commitment to Iraq’s stability, prosperity and democratic progress.
The president met President of the Republic of Iraq Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid at Baghdad Palace.
President Zardari congratulated the Iraqi leadership and people on the successful conduct of the parliamentary elections and expressed best wishes for the smooth formation of the new government.
“Both leaders reviewed the state of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, including the 9th session of the Pakistan-Iraq Joint Ministerial Commission and parliamentary interactions,”
The president noted that current levels of bilateral trade did not reflect the true potential of Pakistan-Iraq economic, cultural and security relations and highlighted opportunities for expanding trade, investment, agriculture and defence production sectors besides information technology, construction, pharmaceuticals and related industries.
He also underscored the importance of business-to-business engagement, reciprocal business delegations and the establishment of direct banking channels to facilitate trade and commercial activity.
President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to support Iraq’s reconstruction and development efforts through the provision of skilled and semi-skilled manpower under the existing Memorandum of Understanding on manpower transmission.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s capacity in medical services, financial expertise and digital governance, and expressed readiness to share technical experience, including in secure data management, to support institutional capacity-building in Iraq.
The president also requested for improved facilitation for Pakistani pilgrims visiting Iraq and expressed hope for early finalization and implementation of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on Zaireen Management, aimed at ensuring orderly travel and addressing longstanding issues related to religious visits.
He also expressed his firm resolve to work with Iraqi government to stop illegal entry and overstay of those Pakistanis who violate Iraqi law.
Both presidents expressed their resolve to fight extremism, terrorism and narco trade and enhance bilateral cooperation.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation across political, economic and social domains, and agreed to maintain close coordination at regional and multilateral fora, including the United Nations and the OIC, on issues of mutual interest.
The Iraqi president appreciated Pakistan’s role in uniting Islamic Ummah and the historical support to the people of Palestine.
Later, Zardari met Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, the Caretaker Prime Minister of Iraq at Government Palace on Sunday, and discussed practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and address priority areas of mutual interest.
President Zardari underscored that Pakistan values its longstanding and brotherly relationship with Iraq and remains committed to working closely with the Iraqi government to expand cooperation through structured and result-oriented mechanisms. Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining regular high-level exchanges to carry forward bilateral engagement.
Economic cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. The President noted that existing trade volumes remain well below potential and called for focused efforts to translate intent into outcomes. He highlighted Pakistan’s readiness to expand cooperation in priority sectors including information technology, agriculture and food security, construction, pharmaceuticals and medicines. The President also stressed the importance of direct banking channels to facilitate trade, business interaction and the movement of pilgrims.
The President expressed satisfaction over the steady progress in bilateral defence ties, including ongoing training programmes and completed defence deliveries. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s willingness to further strengthen defence collaboration in line with Iraq’s requirements and evolving security needs.
The President also highlighted Pakistan’s capacity to support Iraq’s reconstruction through skilled manpower, medical professionals and technical expertise in financial services and digital governance. He referred to the existing manpower transmission framework as an important enabler for structured and welfare-oriented deployment.
The caretaker prime minister welcomed Pakistan’s proposals and appreciated its continued support. Both sides agreed to remain engaged through institutional channels and to pursue cooperation that delivers clear benefits for both countries.