BAGHDAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday arrived in Iraq’s capital where he will hold detailed discussions with the leadership of this country on bilateral cooperation and on the unity of Ummah.

The foreign minister was received at the Baghdad International Airport by Iraq’s Deputy Foreign Minister Dr Saleh Al-Tamimi, Iraqi ambassador in Pakistan Hamid Lafta, Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to Iraq Ahmed Amjad Ali and senior Iraqi foreign ministry officials.

The visit is taking place at the invitation of Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

The meetings will focus on promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields, including bilateral relations, trade, investment, education, agriculture, information technology and defence.

During the visit, FM Qureshi will review cooperation between the two countries in multilateral organisations, in particular the United Nations, its subsidiary organisations, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

He will also exchange views on problems concerning Muslim Ummah, as well as global and regional issues of mutual interest.

Foreign Minister Qureshi will also call on the leadership of Iraq and confer with senior Iraqi ministers on bilateral matters pertaining to respective areas of cooperation.

The issues pertaining to the management and well-being of thousands of Pakistani pilgrims visiting sacred sites in Iraq will also be discussed.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2021