Resetting ties with Iran

Pakistan and Iran have agreed to bury the hatchet. A formal reiteration was made on Monday as Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani met his counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Tehran. The intention was to address the severe misunderstanding that had led to rupture of ties, as Iran went berserk and attacked ‘terrorist sanctuaries’ inside Pakistan and, likewise, was retaliated against by Islamabad. This is why both had expressed their willingness to welcome back each other’s ambassadors who had earlier been recalled. The fact that this reverting back to congeniality has taken place within the minimum timeframe is laudable, and underscores the need for galvanising the bilateral ties to new heights. This also necessitates the desire for tapping available avenues in confidence building, especially in times of adversity.

The decision to station liaison officers’ in Turbat and Zahedan is a great way ahead. This will help in keeping an eye on miscreants, who are out to derail the relationship and play havoc with regional peace and security. It was also soothing to hear from the Iranian side that militants located in the border areas were “led and supported by third countries”. This is a factual statement, per se, and hints at the sound understanding of ground realities by the Islamic Republic. The border region on both sides of Balochistan is infected with sleeping cells and foreign elements, and come to undermine the serenity of the respective countries. This claim can be substantiated as Baloch insurgents, as well as militant groups, are found operative at impunity in Iran and Pakistan, and the Saturday attack on Pakistani-origin residents in Sistan is a case in point.

The foreign ministers have pushed the envelope of reconciliation in an astute manner. This understanding must be secured with institutional support. In an era of connectivity and geopolitical interdependence, neighbours must interact on a broad canvas and do all they can to iron out differences. Will India and Pakistan too take a leaf from this rapprochement? It cannot be delayed any further.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2024.

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