PM Shehbaz holds meeting with Mohsin Naqvi ahead of Tehran visit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday to discuss the minister's forthcoming trip to Tehran. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the two leaders also reviewed Pakistan's overall law and order situation and prevailing security conditions.

During the meeting, Naqvi briefed the prime minister on his recent engagements on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Consultations also took place regarding Naqvi's upcoming visit to Tehran, with the prime minister providing guidance for the trip. This discussion follows Naqvi's earlier meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, where they focused on bilateral relations and regional developments.

Diplomatic sources previously indicated that Naqvi's unscheduled visit to Tehran in May was linked to Pakistan's efforts to revive the stalled Iran-US peace process. This shuttle diplomacy aimed to prevent negotiations from collapsing after momentum slowed. The visit was officially framed around bilateral and border security cooperation, occurring amidst intermittent tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions to global energy shipping.

During his May visit, Naqvi met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Reports from Iranian media stated that the meeting with President Pezeshkian lasted approximately 90 minutes and was attended by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Subsequently, Naqvi met with Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, who reportedly criticized "some regional governments" for relying on the presence of the United States for security.