Pakistan, Iran envoys to resume duties

Iran FM set to visit Pakistan next week to discuss post-militant standoff situation

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Iran have decided to restore diplomatic ties by reinstating ambassadors to their respective capitals later this week, following days of heightened tensions.

Moreover, the Iranian foreign minister is set to visit Pakistan next week to discuss the post-militant standoff situation and explore ways to advance the bilateral relationship.

The development came following a phone conversation on Monday between the foreign ministers of Iran and Pakistan – the third such telephonic exchange between the two top diplomats since the crisis erupted last week when Iran conducted missile and drone strikes inside Pakistan.

"Following the telephone conversation between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, it has been mutually agreed that ambassadors of both countries may return to their respective posts by 26 January 2024," a joint statement simultaneously issued by Tehran and Islamabad said.

Importantly, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, will undertake a visit to Pakistan on Jan 29, the statement added.

The two countries would decide the future course of action and work on a new mechanism to prevent the recurrence of events of the last week.

Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from Tehran and instructed the Iranian envoy to stay back after Iran violated the country’s airspace.

Islamabad also virtually severed diplomatic contacts by suspending all high-level engagements.
However, Pakistan and Iran quickly pulled things from the brink of a major conflict due to hectic diplomatic efforts facilitated by common friends of both the countries.

In a span of six days, the two countries first conducted tit-for-tat attacks and subsequently agreed to de-escalate tensions.

The fact the two neighbours were quick to lower tensions suggested that neither side was interested in deepening the crises at a time when tensions in the Middle East were brewing.

Official sources said the two sides would discuss the way forward during the visit of the Iran’s top diplomat.

The tensions between the two countries may have eased but the question about the long-term implications of the military standoff remains.

Both countries, according to sources, would deliberate how to avoid such incidents in the future.

At the same time, their focus would be on addressing the root cause of the problem.

Pakistan and Iran have grievances against each other. Tehran is concerned that certain anti-Iran elements such as Jaish al-Adl operates from Balochistan. Islamabad, meanwhile, believes that Baloch terrorist outfits have found refuge in Sistan-Baluchistan province of Iran.

The sources said both sides may work on a new framework to deal with the common challenge of terrorism.

For this purpose, both the countries have been quietly working to evolve a new mechanism preventing the recurrence of events of the last week that for a moment jeopardised their longstanding relationship.

Pakistan and Iran may often boast about the "friendly and brotherly" relations, but underneath certain issues exist that cause suspicion in both the capitals.