ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Tehran for Pakistan on Sunday to attend the 30th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Council of Ministers in Islamabad, Iran’s foreign ministry said.
The ministry spokesperson announced on Sunday afternoon that Araghchi would make a two-nation official trip, to Pakistan and then Oman, Iranian state media reported. The Oman leg was reported to be set for Tuesday.
The Islamabad meeting
The two-day ministerial session, which began on Sunday and runs into Monday, is being chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as Pakistan holds the ECO chair. Read how the talks opened in Islamabad, with delegates from member states and the bloc’s secretariat arriving through the day.
Pakistan has said its priorities are regional connectivity and deeper economic integration. Ministers are due to consider draft outcome documents prepared by senior officials, and state media said they were expected to adopt an Islamabad Declaration and approve ECO Vision 2035, a ten-year framework for connectivity and integration.
Dar has also told the ECO secretary general that Pakistan will host the bloc’s summit in 2027.
What is not yet known
The reports seen so far did not say whether Araghchi would hold separate talks with Dar or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines in Islamabad. No bilateral meeting had been announced at the time of writing.
