After being on the brink of a major conflict, Pakistan and Iran have decided to restore full diplomatic relations. According to a joint statement issued by Tehran and Islamabad, the ambassadors of both countries will return to their respective posts by January 26.
Additionally, Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, is set to visit Pakistan on January 29 at the invitation of Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.
The statement mentioned that the two nations will work on a new mechanism to prevent the recurrence of events from the previous week, highlighting their commitment to resolving issues and maintaining diplomatic ties. Despite public assertions of "friendly and brotherly" relations, both countries have underlying concerns about the use of each other's soil by certain terrorist groups.
A key issue centers around Pakistan's concerns regarding Baloch terrorist outfits finding refuge in Iran's Sistan-Balochistan province. Conversely, Iran has raised concerns about anti-Iran militant groups, such as Jaish al-Adl, having hideouts in Pakistan's Balochistan province. Recent cross-border missile strikes by Iran were justified as targeting Jaish al-Adl hideouts, leading to tensions between the two nations. In response, Pakistan conducted strikes on what it claimed were sanctuaries of Baloch terrorists. The diplomatic efforts aim to address these concerns and pave the way for improved relations.
(With Agency Inputs)
