Pakistan, Iran resolve to expand security cooperation, step up efforts to mend ties after tit-for-tat air strikes

Pakistan and Iran on Monday said that they respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolved to expand security cooperation, stepping up efforts to mend ties after tit-for-tat missile strikes this month at what they said were militant targets. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian Monday arrived in Islamabad at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani. The visit comes amid strained relations between the two countries following recent retaliatory strikes. Upon his arrival at the Nur Khan airbase, Amir-Abdollahian was received by Pakistan’s Additional Foreign Secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia Rahim Hayat Qureshi. Tehran initiated missile strikes targeting militant bases in southwestern Pakistan on January 16. Two days later, on January 18, Pakistan responded with retaliatory strikes inside Iran. In a statement, the Pakistan Army said ‘terrorist militant organizations,’ namely Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) were successfully struck in a intelligence-based operation code-named “Marg Bar Sarmachar”. Recently, Pakistan and Iran agreed to de-escalate the situation and work in close coordination on counter-terrorism, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official press release. The Pakistani minister held a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abdollahian and stressed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries. The ministry said in a statement, “Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani spoke with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, today. Underscoring the close brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, the Foreign Minister expressed Pakistan’s desire to work with Iran based on spirit of mutual trust and cooperation. The Foreign Minister stressed that respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty must underpin this cooperation.”