ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would on Sunday begin a two-day visit to Iran for trust building talks with the Iranian leadership.

Prime Minister Sharif would meet Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Rouhani. The visit is being seen in the diplomatic circles as an attempt to reverse the downward trajectory in ties.

Relations between Pakistan and Iran have long been marred by mistrust, but the gulf widened since PML-N came to power last year. Suspension of work on gas pipeline, border incidents and growing closeness with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were sceptically seen in Tehran.

“The visit of the prime minister to Iran would not only provide a political affirmation to our bilateral relations, but would also set a forward trajectory for their future course,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Prime Minister Sharif had at an envoys’ conference on Middle and Gulf last week clarified that “efforts to develop bilateral ties with one country are not, and will not be, at the expense of another”.

He was implied to be referring to the delicate balance that Pakistan has to strike in ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The visit, a diplomatic source from Tehran said, would not begin on a very high note as the Iranian leadership snubbed a Pakistani offer for mediation with Riyadh. The offer was delivered by Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz.

The visit was preceded by political consultations between the two countries.

Sartaj Aziz first travelled to Tehran for meeting the Iranian leadership. His visit was followed by bilateral consultations in which Pakistan was represented by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.

Iranian Interior Minister afterwards came to Pakistan for what the FO Spokesperson said at a briefing “delivering the formal letter of invitation.”

The exchanges had helped to set the agenda for Mr Sharif’s visit.

“The leadership level discussions would afford the two sides an opportunity to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest,” the FO said.

Emphasis, the FO said, would be attached to strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

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“In this context, the existing potential of bilateral trade would be reinforced through initiatives aimed at enhancing physical connectivity between the sides,” the statement said.

The two sides are expected to sign about eight MoUs and agreements for “institutionalising mutually beneficial cooperation”.

Mr Sharif would be accompanied by Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Khaqan Abbasi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik.