Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan congratulate Pakistan on Independence Day as Iran vows to deepen ties

ISLAMABAD: Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan on Friday extended their congratulations to Pakistan on its 80th Independence Day, while Tehran reiterated its commitment to deepen relations with Islamabad.

Pakistan achieved independence from British colonial rule on August 14, 1947, after the United Kingdom partitioned the Indian sub-continent into two independent dominions, Muslim Pakistan and Hindu-majority India.

“Congratulations to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the occasion of its Independence Day,” the Jordanian foreign ministry wrote on X.

Bahrain’s crown prince and prime minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, sent a cable of congratulations to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Pakistan’s Independence Day, the Bahraini premier’s office said.

Separately, Qatar’s deputy emir, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani, sent a cable of congratulations to President Zardari on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day, the Qatar news agency reported.

On the occasion, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to strengthening relations with Pakistan and said the countries’ shared interests and destinies were “more closely intertwined than ever before,” Iranian state media reported.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes its determination and will to further strengthen comprehensive relations with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and is ready, in the light of mutual trust and respect and by utilizing the extensive existing capacities, to take more effective steps to strengthen relations between the two countries and secure the common interests of the two nations,” he was quoted as saying by state-run IRNA news agency.

The statement followed renewed momentum in Pakistan-Iran ties, with both countries stepping up high-level engagements after Islamabad played a key role in diplomatic efforts to help de-escalate tensions during the recent US-Iran conflict.