Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss strengthening political, economic, and defense relations between the two countries.

The meeting was held at the premises of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

Increasing border security dominated the discussions, which also included other vital issues such as trade relations and prisoner exchange initiatives.

After their private talks, the two foreign ministers chaired a meeting between high-ranking delegations from both sides to further deliberate on strategies for strengthening bilateral ties.

Amirabdollahian and Zardari will address the media in a press conference afterward.

Upon his arrival in Islamabad on Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minister said he hoped the visit would open “a new chapter” in relations between the neighboring countries.

Amirabdollahian and his accompanying delegation were accorded an official welcome at the Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam late on Wednesday.

Earlier, Mehdi Safari, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for economic diplomacy, led an economic and trade delegation to Islamabad for talks with Pakistan about enhancing bilateral economic cooperation.

The official visit is in line with Iran's foreign policy strategy of enhancing relations with neighboring nations.