Zardari visits shrines in Baghdad and meets with Iraqi leaders

President Asif Ali Zardari, who is on a four-day official visit to Iraq, on Monday visited important religious shrines in Baghdad and prayed for peace, unity and security of the Muslim community, as Islamabad and Baghdad seek to deepen bilateral cooperation.

During the visit, the President paid his respects at the shrines of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, Imam Musa al-Kazim and Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al-Jawad, where he offered nawafil, met with shrine administrators and recorded his comments in the visitor books. He also visited the shrine of Imam Abu Hanifa and offered prayers.

Read: Zardari arrives in Baghdad for official visit

According to an official statement, President Zardari described the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt as an eternal source of knowledge, patience, wisdom and moral strength, and prayed for harmony and stability throughout the Muslim world.

Religious commitments coincided with high-level diplomatic meetings. Earlier, President Zardari met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid at the Baghdad Palace, where he was given an official welcome and guard of honour. The two leaders held individual talks, followed by delegation-level discussions and a lunch hosted by the Iraqi president.

President Zardari arrived in Baghdad earlier this week and was received by Iraq’s Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani. During the visit, meetings with senior Iraqi leaders are expected to advance cooperation and further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Iraq.

During his meetings with officials, President Zardari clarified that existing levels of bilateral trade did not reflect the true potential of Pakistan-Iraq relations and called for greater cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture and defense production, while identifying opportunities in information technology, construction and pharmaceuticals.

He highlighted the need for stronger links between companies, reciprocal commercial delegations and the establishment of direct banking channels to facilitate commercial activity. The President reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to support the reconstruction of Iraq by providing skilled and semi-skilled manpower under an existing MoU, and highlighted Pakistan’s capabilities in medical services, financial expertise and digital governance, including secure data management.

Read more: Pakistan and Iraq promise greater bilateral cooperation

He also called for better facilitation for Pakistani pilgrims and early finalization of the MoU on the management of Zaireen, while affirming Pakistan’s resolve to curb illegal entry and overstay. Both sides agreed to improve cooperation against extremism, terrorism and narcotics trafficking, and deepen coordination in regional and multilateral forums.

En route from Islamabad, the president also conveyed a goodwill message to Iranian leaders as his plane entered Iranian airspace, reaffirming solidarity with Iran and underscoring mutual respect and the importance of stronger regional relations.