ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri left for Oman on Friday on a three-day official visit to shore up Pakistan’s economic and political ties with its key maritime neighbour which has close relations with both the US and Iran.

He is accompanied by the foreign ministry’s Director-General (Middle East Division) Ms Humaira Hasan and Director-General Foreign Minister’s Office Khalid Mahmud who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Oman in the Nineties.

Mr Kasuri will hold wide-ranging talks with his Omani counterpart Yousuf Alawi Bin Abdullah who is to lay the foundation stone of the Embassy of Pakistan Complex in Muscat.

Also on the agenda is a meeting with Dr Yahya Bin Mahfoudh Al-Mantheri, President, Majli al-Daulla (Council of State), and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Qatabi, President of the Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council).

A press statement issued by the Foreign Minister’s Office on Friday said his visit would provide an opportunity for a comprehensive exchange of views on ways and means to bolster bilateral cooperation.

According to the statement, Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s landmark visit to Pakistan in 2001 helped in a warming of bilateral relations during which he also announced assistance of $100 million for development schemes and investment projects in the country which include projects like Omani investment in the Gwadar International Airport, Pakistan-Oman Investment Company, and Oman shares in Pakistan-Oman Micro-Finance Credit.

“The visit of Foreign Minister Kasuri in the backdrop of growing high-level exchanges between the two sides will intensify economic relations between Oman and Pakistan,” it said.

Currently, two-way trade between the countries stands at $60 million. Oman, which is a country with remarkable social and economic indicators, is also host to 85,000 Pakistani expatriates.

Discussions between the two sides will also cover regional and international issues. The foreign minister will apprise the Omani side of the progress on the composite dialogue process with India and the situation in Afghanistan, the statement said, adding: “The two sides will also have a comprehensive exchange of view on the latest developments in the region, including the situation in Iraq, Palestine, the Middle East Peace Process and other regional issues of mutual interest.”