Tehran: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally invited Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to pay an official visit to Islamabad at the earliest possible opportunity, while President Pezeshkian extended a reciprocal invitation for Sharif to attend the upcoming ECO summit in Tehran.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the invitations were extended during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Council summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as stated in a release by the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, the two leaders emphasized their deep and longstanding ties, advocating for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in all fields. This call for enhanced collaboration aligns with agreements made during Pezeshkian's recent visit to Islamabad.

The leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to expand regional connectivity and people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Iran. In discussions on regional matters, Sharif stressed the importance of restraint and diplomatic engagement to achieve lasting peace in the region.

Sharif reiterated Pakistan's commitment to sincere efforts for regional peace, citing the recent visit of Field Marshal Asim Munir to Tehran and his constructive engagement as a promising development. The statement also quoted the Iranian president expressing appreciation for Pakistan's diplomatic efforts toward regional peace and security.