Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening engagement with Iran in a meeting with the Iranian ambassador, Raza Amiri Moghaddam, in Islamabad on Saturday.

Ambassador Moghaddam conveyed condolences over yesterday’s tragic suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad, in which over 30 people were killed, the FO said in a post on X.

Dar “strongly condemned the terrorist attack, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”, the FO said.

The Iranian envoy also briefed Dar on progress achieved through various bilateral institutional mechanisms to enhance cooperation across diverse areas.

The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening engagement with Iran in key priority sectors of mutual interest, the FO added.

Pakistan and Iran share close ties, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif having spoken with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian last week on the “evolving regional situation”.

According to a handout from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Shehbaz “underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and diplomatic engagement for promoting peace, security and development in the region”.

The call came hours after Dar had underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Russian ambassador expresses condolences over loss of life

Earlier, the foreign minister also received the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, Albert P Khorev, according to a separate FO statement on social media.

“The two sides reviewed the entire gamut of Pakistan-Russia relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties,” the statement said.

The ambassador expressed condolences over the precious loss of lives in the Islamabad blast. The foreign minister again strongly condemned the heinous act of terror and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to combat terrorism, expressing solidarity with the victims’ families.