ISLAMABAD: Against the backdrop of recent tensions between Pakistan and Iran, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani engaged in a telephonic conversation with Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday.
During the discussion, Jilani expressed Islamabad’s willingness to collaborate with Tehran on various issues.
Earlier in the week, Iran had conducted attacks in Pakistan, targeting alleged bases of the militant group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan, as reported by Iranian state media. This led to a strong condemnation from Islamabad and a subsequent downgrade in diplomatic ties.
The Iranian strikes were part of a series of attacks in Syria and Iraq in response to recent terrorist incidents on its own soil, raising concerns about regional stability amidst ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
In retaliation, Pakistan targeted “hideouts used by terrorist organizations, namely Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF),” in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province. Iran reported nine casualties in the attack, condemning it and summoning Pakistan’s charge d’affaires for an explanation.
Despite the tensions, a press release from the Iranian foreign ministry emphasized its commitment to good neighborly relations with Pakistan, condemning what it deemed an “unbalanced and unacceptable drone attack on non-Iranian villagers.”
In response to Pakistan’s counteraction, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, decided to cut short his visit. Similarly, Foreign Minister Jilani, who was in Uganda for a ministerial meeting of the non-aligned movement, also opted to return to Pakistan.
Foreign Minister @JalilJilani spoke with the Foreign Minister of Iran, @Amirabdolahian today. Foreign Minister Jilani expressed Pakistan’s readiness to work with Iran on all issues based on spirit of mutual trust and cooperation. He underscored the need for closer cooperation on… pic.twitter.com/BctWkBvnjl
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) January 19, 2024
The Foreign Office issued a statement today, noting that Minister Jilani spoke with Abdollahian, expressing Pakistan’s readiness to collaborate with Iran on all issues based on mutual trust and cooperation.
Emphasizing the need for closer cooperation on security matters, the exchange between foreign ministers occurred as the National Security Committee (NSC) is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting for a comprehensive national security review in the aftermath of the Iran-Pakistan incidents.
PM Kakar will chair the meeting, attended by military services chiefs, including Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
