Pakistan-Iran cooperation

In what appears to be a welcome move, Pakistan and Iran have decided to together confront the threat emanating from the so-called Islamic State (IS). Calling the IS a disgrace to Islam and blaming it for bringing a bad name to the religion of peace, a joint statement issued last week noted the need for establishing institutional mechanisms to oversee border security, including setting up of a joint commission, and continuing discussions on joint counter-terrorism efforts for the establishment of peace and security in the region. The statement also called for unity among the Muslim world through early resolution of all differences, particularly alluding to the current strained ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The joint statement was issued following a meeting in Tehran between Pakistan’s National Security Adviser, Nasser Janjua, and Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani. The three-day visit of Pakistan’s NSA to Tehran on the invitation of his Iranian counterpart and his meetings with the Iranian interior minister, adviser to the Supreme Leader on international affairs and head of the General Staff of the armed forces, and the content of the joint statement issued on the conclusion of the visit reflect a new-found seriousness with which the two neighbours appear to be viewing the various threats that confront them. Both Pakistan and Iran are attractive targets for the IS whose presence at this stage in the region may be only rudimentary but whose ability to inspire lone-wolf attacks cannot be discounted and if not checked at this stage, its influence is likely to spread rapidly, courtesy the internet and social media. To mount a successful operation against these threats, the two neighbours should, as a first step, increase their respective internal vigilance efforts, especially through their intelligence networks and closely share information and cooperate in strict border management. The two should also strive to bring Afghanistan into the loop as the recent attack in Kabul claimed by the IS seems to have served a dire notice on the war-ravaged country as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2016.

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